The Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to start allowing the use of road-worthy public utility jeepneys (PUJs) nationwide. 

FPI said these PUJs are “much safer than airconditioned versions in reducing the viral load during transport, with a caveat that both the drivers and passengers wear masks, in addition to (following) other health safety measures.” 

“This is very critical because the ordinary workers could not report for work since this (mode of) transportation is not available particularly in the economic centers,” the FPI said. 

The organization also requested that the government ease movement restrictions in the countryside to reenergize the agriculture and forestry sectors, “which are hardly affected by COVID-19 due to the open space and low viral loads.”

“This will help to revive our agriculture and forestry enterprises in the countryside, which more often than not are supplying the companies in the main economic centers,” the FPI said.