CLARK FIELD — 97 units of Blue Taxi have started ferrying passengers again as Pampanga province was placed under General Community Quarantine today, June 1.
“We have 100 units and the registered now at LTFRB with special permit to operate in GCQ period are 97 units limited to areas of Pampanga only,” Mabuhay Car Rentals Pampanga, Operations Manager, Ms. Morena Catalan said.
Mabuhay Car Rentals, the operator of Blue Taxi registered Transport Vehicle Network Service in Pampanga, had disclosed that hundred percent of their operation has been halted since community quarantine was raised in Luzon.
The transport service includes any parts of Central Luzon but under the General Community Quarantine it will be only limited strictly to Pampanga area.
Pursuant to Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) protocols, the operator assures the safety and health measures. Each taxi had plastic covers around the driver’s seat and requiring drivers to wear gloves and masks throughout their duties.
“Driver’s seat had a barrier and drivers wear mask and gloves and they have alcohols. We also have sheets on each unit for us to know the names of passenger” Catalan said.
Moreover, drivers were in routine shifts and rented cars will have a daily cleaning routine to ensure safety of passengers and drivers. They also follow the fare imposed on their previous operation.
“It’s same, flag-down rate of each unit will be P40 and the rate to the each succeeding kilometer adds P13.50 pesos and 2 pesos per minute,” Catalan stressed
Blue Taxi started its operation November 15, 2019 in Pampanga province and ceased operation in March because of the Enhanced Community Quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic.