The Department of Transportation and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases began the implementation of the reduced social distancing on public transportation just at the start of this week, on September 14. Now, just three days after, the agencies have temporarily suspended the said guidelines.
This was announced by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque during a briefing earlier today, September 17. "Kaka-anunsyo lang po ni Secretary Tugade sa nagaganap na [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] (IATF) meeting na balik one-meter distancing muna po tayo sa pampublikong transportasyon habang wala pa pong desisyon ang Presidente kung ito nga po ay puwedeng maibaba sa 0.75 [meters]," said Roque.
Roque mentioned that the necessary report to be studied by President Rodrigo Duterte will only be submitted later today, so we can probably expect an update on Monday, September 21, during the Duterte's next public address.
In case you missed it, this move by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the IATF would have seen the social-distancing requirement on all modes of public transportation reduced to just 0.75 meters, then to just 0.5 meters and eventually to 0.3 meters by October 12, 2020.
this strange new world.