CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA)–The Tabuk City Inter-agency Task Force (CIATF) against COVID-19 has agreed to allow the  resumption of   provincial bus operation that was stopped for more than a year now due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The move came following reports of colorum vans operating to some destinations without regard to health protocols.

In the recent CIATF meeting, it was agreed that bus routes to be allowed are the Tabuk-Manila, Tabuk-Baguio and Tabuk-Bontoc. The body believes that health protocols could be strictly imposed on the bus operation option compared to colorum vans which operate illegally.

It was decided that only “terminal-to-terminal” transport will be allowed and there should be no picking up and disembarking of passengers along the way.  

The body also agreed to limit bus travel to residents aged 18- to 65-year-old and persons travelling are required to present either a negative rapid antigen test result or vaccination card. Recommended travel period is maximum of 72 hours or three days.  

Bus operators would be asked to present trip manifesto to check on the list of passengers from point of origin to point of destination.

A technical working group was formed to formulate the full guidelines for point-to-point bus operations and to reconcile the same with the guidelines set by the local government units of destination.

Mayor Darwin C. Estranero said public movement though is still regulated only for essential travels, lest it would spark surge of COVID-19 cases. (JDP/LL-PIA Kalinga with reports from Tabuk City LGU)