Public utility vehicles (PUVs) in this city can continue to ply their routes but under revised guidelines, the city government announced on Sunday, August 1.

The Cebu City Transportation Office said public trips would continue for the public interest while the central Philippines stays under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second highest quarantine category, from August 1 to 15.

“Ang MECQ status gibawalan unta [ang] pampublikong transportasyon pero gitugutan kini tungod sa One Cebu initiative para sa kaayohan sa tanan,” Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) claimed in a Facebook post.

(PUVs are supposedly prohibited under MECQ but the One Cebu initiative revised this for everyone’s welfare.)

But the transport office warned that drivers who violate protocols would be detained for a day and fined. 

Vans for hire can only have two passengers in a row and only a single passenger on the front seat. Standard and premium sedans can only have up to three passengers. The bigger premium taxis and hired vehicles have the same passenger load and distribution as vans.

Shuttle services are allowed 75% capacity while motorcycle taxis with the prescribed plastic barriers can have only one passenger seated behind the driver. Tricycles can only have one passenger in the sidecar.

CCTO also reiterated the prohibition on talking, eating, overloading, standing, sabak (double-seating), and kapyot (clinging on PUVs).

“(The) revised PUV protocols (must be complied with by) PUV operators, drivers, conductors and all passengers,” CCTO said. – Rappler.com