With the suspension of all mass transportation brought about by the ‘enhanced community quarantine,’ Sen. Risa Hontiveros called on the Department of Transportation [DOTr] to deploy vehicles to transport health workers to and from health facilities.
“It is essential that vehicles are provided to ferry our health workers from their localities to their respective health facilities.
Hindi pwedeng ma-paralyze ang serbisyo ng ating mga health facilities just because our health workers are unable to report to work because of the lack of transportation options,” Hontiveros said in a statement on Tuesday.
The senator suggested that DOTr should partner with private companies in getting more vehicles on the road to service health workers. “We need buses, coasters, and other spacious vehicles that can accommodate the most number of health workers within the frame of ‘social distancing,’” Hontiveros further said.
“This should be free service to all our unsung heroes working at the frontlines in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Hontiveros earlier advocated for hazard pay for health, service and other frontline workers who are still asked to report to work.
The Senator also suggested that major points within the city or municipality can be designated as point-to-point or P2P stations for these vehicles. “Spacious areas like empty mall parking lots can be assigned as pick-up and drop-off stations for our health workers,” she also advised.
“Hindi na kayang problemahin ng mga ospital at health facilities ang mobility ng kanilang mga health workers, sa dami na ring nakaasa sa kanila,” Hontiveros explained. “The government needs to step in and make sure that our health workers are not stranded outside because of the suspension of public transportation,” she urged.