DOTr rolls out 74 units, increases new routes to 13 for the Free Ride Program for health workers affected by Enhanced Community Quarantine

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) continues with the mission to ferry health personnel to their workplaces daily, as its free ride for health workers rolls out on its third day. The free ride is being done amid the implementation of an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The free bus service, which started Tuesday, 18 March 2020, is in line with the instruction of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to DOTr road sector agencies to help ferry health workers who are now at the frontline of the country’s fight against the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

From only three (3) routes during its initial deployment, the free bus service now serves health workers on thirteen (13) routes:

Northwest Area
Revised ROUTE 1

Meralco (Malanday)*
Valenzuela City General Hospital
MCU Hospital (Monumento)*
Caloocan City Medical Center
Tondo General Hospital
Our Lady of Fatima
Metropolitan Medical Center
San Lazaro Hospital
Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center
University of Sto. Tomas Hospital
Chinese General Hospital
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Northwest Area
Revised ROUTE 2

Valenzuela Gateway Complex*
Quezon City General Hospital
Balintawak*
MCU Hospital (Monumento)*
Our Lady of Fatima University
Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center
Philippine Orthopedic Center
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Northeast Area
Revised ROUTE 3

SM City SJDM (Bulacan)
Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial (Caloocan)
SM Fairview*
Diliman Doctors Hospital
Veterans Memorial Medical Center
Lung Center of the Philippines
Philippine Heart Center
East Avenue Medical Center
Philippine Children’s Hospital
Centris Station (EDSA / Quezon Ave.)*

*Pick-up/transfer points


East Area
ROUTE 4

SM City Masinag*
Marikina Valley Medical Center
Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center
BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal*
Quirino Memorial Medical Center
Araneta Center Bus Terminal
Robinsons Galleria*
The Medical City – Ortigas

*Pick-up/transfer points


East Area
ROUTE 5

Ortigas Hospital & Healthcare (Cainta)*
SM City East Ortigas
Pasig City General Hospital
The Medical City Ortigas
Robinsons Galleria*
VRP Medical Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center*
Rizal Medical Center

*Pick-up/transfer points


Central Area
Revised ROUTE 6

Centris Station (EDSA / Quezon Ave.)*
Providence Hospital
Capitol Medical Center
Philippine Orthopedic Center (Banawe)
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)*
National Children’s Hospital
De Los Santos Medical Center
St. Luke’s Medical Center (E. Rodriguez)
UERM Memorial Medical Center
MRT-3 Cubao / Araneta Center*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Central/East Area
Revised ROUTE 7

Pasig City General Hospital
Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral*
Pasig Rotonda
Rizal Medical Center
The Medical City (Ortigas)
Robinsons Galleria*
Cardinal Santos Medical Center
VRP Medical Center
National Center for Mental Health
Makati Medical Center*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Southeast Area
Revised ROUTE 8

Starmall – Alabang*
SLEX Sucat Exit*
Bicutan Exit
Makati Medical Center*
St. Luke’s Medical Center – BGC*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Southwest Area
ROUTE 9

Vista Mall, Daang Hari*
Perpetual Help Medical Center (Las Piñas)
Las Piñas General Hospital
Baclaran Market*
San Juan de Dios Educational Medical Center
Pasay City General Hospital
Adventist Medical Center
Makati Medical Center*
Philippine General Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital
United Doctors Medical Center (Welcome Rotonda)*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Southeast Area
ROUTE 10
Feeder route

RITM*
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Muntinlupa City Hospital
Starmall – Alabang*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Southeast Area
ROUTE 11

Starmall – Alabang*
SLEX Sucat Exit*
Bicutan Exit
San Juan de Dios EFI – Hospital
Gil Puyat Station LRT-1*
Philippine General Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital

*Pick-up/transfer points


Southeast Area
ROUTE 12

SM Molino
Imus Transport Plaza
Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center
Baclaran Market*
San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation Hospital
Gil Puyat*
Adventist Medical Center Manila
Philippine General Hospital*
Manila Doctors Hospital*

*Pick-up/transfer points


South Area
ROUTE 13

Seaoil Imus Daang Hari/Aguinaldo
Imus Transport Terminal*
Las Piñas General Hospital
Perpetual Help Medical Center
RITM*
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Muntinlupa Hospital
Starmall Alabang*

*Pick-up/transfer points


Buses will transport passengers to these designated routes, and vice versa at 5:00AM, 7:00AM, 1:00PM, 3:00PM, 5:00PM, and 7:00PM.

Seventy-two (72) buses and two (2) modern Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) have committed to transport health workers for free along the specified routes, which are still subject to change depending on the data and requests coming from the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, transport officials clarified that the free ride is not restricted to doctors and nurses only. This will also be made available to other hospital workers such as administration personnel, utility workers, security officers, and other health workers such as pharmacists, caregivers, and the like.

The bus service will likewise comply with DOH containment protocols such as the observance of social distancing, body temperature checks, and regular disinfecting of vehicles. Drivers and health workers will also be given food and water.

“Of all the distress this virus has caused, one of the good things it has brought forth is the indomitable bayanihan spirit of the Filipino people. Our frontline health workers have sacrificed so much, leaving the comfort of their homes to fulfill their sworn duty to save lives. And now, we have our drivers too to safely bring our warriors to the battlefield. Saludo ako sa inyong lahat!”, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade expressed.

The same bus service scheme is also being advised to be replicated for all regions in Luzon while the enhanced community quarantine is being enforced.

The free bus service is implemented in cooperation and close coordination with the Office of the President, Office of the Solicitor General, Supreme Court, House of Representative, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), and private bus companies such as HM Transport, San Agustin, MetroExpress, RRCG, Precious Grace, Ceres, Jac Liner, St. Rose, Pamana, Jasper Jean, Pascual, Hi-Star, Ube Express, Hafti Transport, G-Liner, Thelman Transit, and automotive company Foton.  

DOST reminds graduating scholars to serve the country well

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Servant Leaders. DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, S&T Services Usec. Renato Solidum, Jr., DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo, and DOST-SEI Deputy Director Albert Mariño encourage graduating science scholars to lead in serving the public at the 2020 Exit Conference for NCR-based scholars. Photo courtesy of Mr. Teddy Amante.

“When you signed up for the DOST Scholarship Program, you know that there is a patriotic reason behind it,” said Science Chief Fortunato de la Peña.

This message was addressed to more than 800 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholars who attended the 2020 Exit Conference for DOST-SEI NCR Scholars held on February 21, 2020 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The event, now on its third year of implementation, is organized to keep graduating scholars in the loop of their scholarship obligation.

“The main rationale is, of course, to produce more science and technology professionals to help us meet the demands of the country and the world. But beyond that, we envision you to become instrumental figures in nation building,” de la Peña added.

The DOST has been providing science and technology scholarships, through the DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), to increase S&T workforce in the country.

After a refresher on the terms of scholarship agreement, scholars were given the opportunity to ask questions, especially on service obligation which requires scholars to render service equivalent to the length of time the scholar enjoyed the scholarship.

Top DOST officials including Sec. de la Peña, S&T Services Usec. Renato Solidum, Jr., DOST-SEI Director Josette Biyo and Deputy Director Albert Mariño joined the Q&A session to further enlighten scholars on their responsibilities.

The Exit Conference also served as venue to provide scholars with information about the DOST-SEI graduate scholarship programs.

“Looking for jobs is always a rational choice. But you can also continue nurturing your capabilities by studying some more,” said Usec. Solidum in his inspirational message.

DOST-SEI offers local graduate scholarships such as the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP) for those who want to take their master’s or doctoral degrees in priority S&T areas; the Capacity Building Program in Science and Mathematics Education (CBPSME) for students pursuing graduate degrees in science and mathematics education; and the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) for graduate students in various fields of engineering.

The Institute has also partnered with international organizations and academic institutions to provide foreign graduate scholarships to qualified Filipino scientists and engineers.

The whole-day exit conference likewise featured talks by notable guest speakers from both government and private sectors, and successful graduate scholars. Mr. Reggie Obos, former scholar and now Senior IT Manager at Procter & Gamble Philippines and Ms. Hilda Gaurino, Chief of the Human Resource Management Division at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), shared career tips to help scholars start their S&T careers.

“We hope to continue doing the Exit Conference as part of our commitment to our scholars,” Dr. Biyo said. Other DOST regional offices have started conducting similar event for DOST scholars in the regions.

DOTr to distribute 100K face masks to hospitals, frontline employees, health workers amid COVID-19 pandemic

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to distribute 100,000 face masks to hospitals, its frontline employees, including those involved in port and airport operations, enforcers, drivers, persons involved in the DOTr Free Ride program, and health workers.

This, after a Good Samaritan donated the face masks to DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade yesterday, 20 March 2020.

"To the one who donated these hundred thousand face masks, I, on behalf of the DOTr and the entire country, express our sincerest gratitude. This will greatly help our frontline employees, and of course, our health workers. These people are leaving their homes to fulfill their sworn duty -- to serve the country, and to save lives. Thank you for your utmost concern and compassion to our countrymen," Secretary Arthur Tugade expressed.

According to Transportation Undersecretary for Administrative Service and DOTr representative to the IATF Artemio Tuazon, Jr. the face masks will be distributed as soon as possible to swiftly help those that neeed it the most.

“The face masks that will be used by frontline employees, especially those in port and airport operations, enforcers, drivers, health workers and those involved in the DOTr’s Free Ride program, will be distributed today. Those that will be given to the skeletal workforce of the DOTr Central Office and its attached agencies will be distributed starting on Monday, 23 March 2020,” Usec. Tuazon said.

The DOTr will likewise donate bulk of the face masks to public hospitals on Monday, 23 March 2020. To be provided with face masks are health workers assigned at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa, San Lazaro Hospital, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, and the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, among others.

"We're currently facing a battle against something that we can't see -- and that distress taught us that it is high time for Filipinos to show the world that we still have that indomitable bayanihan spirit," Secretary Tugade added.

To help health workers with their commuting needs, amid the enforcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Luzon, the DOTr has been deploying buses -- in coordination with several government agencies, and private companies since 18 March 2020.

The free ride initiative of the department involves the deployment of 72 buses, and two (2) modern Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), all of which are sent out in compliance with the disease containment protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH) such as the observance of social distancing, checking of body temperature, and regular disinfecting of vehicles.

The shuttle service has 14 routes, which ferry passengers at 5AM, 7AM, 1PM, 3PM, 5PM, and 7PM.