Regional bus trips remain suspended

NAGA CITY --- The Bicol Central Station (BCS) has clarified that the operation of public utility buses with inter-regional routes are still suspended due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, contrary to reports that bus trips from Bicol to Manila, vice versa, would resume this month.

Roderick Reforsado, BCS manager, said the continued suspension of inter-regional bus trips is in compliance with existing rules of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Department of Transportation (DOTr).

He said that inter and intra-provincial bus travels, however, have already resumed since the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Reforsado added that the resumption of operation of inter-regional bus trips in the future will depend on the decision of IATF and DOTr.

The DOTr has issued guidelines for public transport operation amidst the existence of Covid-19 as early as April 26, 2020.

Under these guidelines, the primary reason for the continued suspension of inter-regional bus trips is to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

To recall, cases of Covid-19 in provinces started to rise when the national government allowed locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), who were transported mostly via special bus trips from Metro