No changes in supply and capacity of public transportation as NCR, Laguna, and Bataan downgrade from ECQ to MECQ

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said there will be no changes in the supply and capacity of public transportation as the National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna, and Bataan downgrade from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to the less restrictive modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 21 to August 31.
With the continued spread of the COVID-19 and the threat posed by new COVID-19 variants, DOTr Secretary Art Tugade reminded commuters and transport workers to observe strict health and safety measures. He stressed anew that only Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) as identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will be allowed to use public transport services.

"As the threat of COVID-19 and Delta variant cases soar, the public should remain vigilant, especially in using public transport. Just like during the ECQ period, there will be stricter enforcement of safety measures to ensure that only APORs are permitted to use public transport, as mandated by the IATF," Sec. Tugade said.

With the enforcement of the MECQ in the NCR, public transportation, and all other modes of transportation - privately-owned, with special permits, and/or dedicated service under the government initiative, etc., - will still strictly observe the prescribed physical distancing and health measures at all times.

In the Road Transport Sector, public utility buses and jeepneys are allowed to operate at 50% maximum capacity on a “one-seat-apart” rule. There will be no standing passengers and only one passenger is allowed to be seated on the driver's row.

Motorcycle taxi services and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) operations are allowed. Only one (1) passenger per tricycle is allowed, as approved by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in compliance with the existing policies on its operational limitations.

In the Railway Sector, operations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 will continue during the MECQ period. Train marshals will be deployed to identify APORs and to help enforce strict health and safety protocols.

In the Aviation and Maritime Sectors, domestic flights and sea travel in the NCR will also continue during the MECQ, subject to community quarantine restrictions of the passenger’s destination.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT) and transport marshals will continue to ensure that motorists will adhere to safety protocols during the implementation of the MECQ.

Sec. Tugade reminds the public and other transport stakeholders to follow the 7 Commandments for Public Transport: The wearing of masks and face shields, no talking and making phone calls, no eating, keeping public utility vehicles well-ventilated, conduct of frequent disinfection, no passengers with COVID-19 symptoms are to be allowed inside public transport vehicles, and the observance of appropriate physical distancing rule.

MECQ protocol announced: Outdoor exercise allowed only during 6 to 9 am starting August 21

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The 8 pm to 4 am curfew in NCR will remain in effect until further notice. But outdoor exercises from 6 am to 9 am will be allowed during MECQ, according to MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, presiding officer of the Metro Manila Council.

While we appreciate being allowed to exercise outdoors,  wouldn’t it be easier to practice social distancing if everyone was not crammed into a 3 hour window? This only creates a rush hour.

Ang tatanga talaga nila. Eh di lahat ng gustong mag exercise will be crammed between 6-9 am. Bwahaha!

What is the logic or reasoning behind this?

Curfews only promote cramming and social distancing violation. Even outdoors are no longer safe as the covid virus is a full blown airborne contagion...

Woohooo ang saya saya nyan bukas 6-9am sabay-sabay ang lahat.

While they're at it, bakit di na lang sila mag organize ng fun run. Gun start 6am tapos cutoff 9am.

After 9 am pa daw kasi ang labas ng COVID. Malalate daw kasi ang covid dahil traffic. Madami daw kasi tao ng 4am to 6am. kaya 6 am to 9 am allowed ang exercise.

Sa umaga kasi ay tulog pa po yata yung  virus from 6am-9am. Puyat po kasi daw yung virus dahil graveyard shift sila from 8pm - 4am kaya yun ang curfew naman po natin.

If only common sense is indeed common to all.. These government officials talaga oh, senseless as always. Ang tatalino...ahahaha!

Literal na sample ng “oh sige na nga” at mema na lang!

17,231 new Covid-19 cases for today. 317 dead. Tamang tama pala yun pagluwag ng quarantine restriction sa NCR?

Pwede naman mag exercise sa loob ng bahay. Naghihigpit kuno pero hindi nag-iisip, mga expert daw,  pero walang common sense?

So nice of our masters. But I won't be satisfied until 2 face shields and leashes are also mandatory. 

Who knows, if we're obedient enough, they'll let us live in their garage, or garden and feed us.

I'm already practicing my "roll over", "beg", and "play dead".

Also since MECQ na ay wala ng ayuda, baka pwedeng may free treats na lang.

Gina Iniong happy to see Jenelyn Olsim make her own name in ONE

Wazzup Pilipinas

Much has been said about the new breed of Team Lakay fighters as the likes of Lito "Thunder Kid" Adiwang, Stephen "The Sniper" Loman, Jeremy "The Juggernaut" Pacatiw, and Jhanlo Mark Sangiao have all garnered hype upon their arrival in ONE Championship.

But make no mistake about it, that excitement isn't limited to the legendary stable's male competitors.

Jenelyn Olsim is also hoisting the flag for the women in the Baguio-based gym as she seeks to make her own splash in The Home of Martial Arts.

And she's got a veteran backing her up in this ascent.

Gina "Conviction" Iniong is elated to see how Olsim has fared since her arrival in ONE Championship, establishing herself as one of the fiercest female fighters in the promotion.

"Jenelyn has been showing great promise since she competed in ONE Championship. She won [her debut] in dominant fashion and I think at the rate she’s fighting now, we can see her challenging for a belt soon," she said.

Iniong is just overjoyed to witness this campaign for Olsim, especially seeing how far the latter has gone in her career.

"I can remember the first time I saw Jenelyn in the Team Lakay Gym and all I saw was a very hardworking and talented fighter. She listens to the coaches, and she absorbs everything in our training," she recounted.

"She just takes in all that information very well and understands the pointers that were given to her, and she really uses it to her advantage to get further and get better in her career."

In Iniong's eyes, Olsim's campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games back in 2019 may have also boosted her confidence as she became one of the few Team Lakay medalists in the regional multi-sport event after taking home a silver medal in the women's 54kg in muay thai.

"We were in different training camps, but because we're both in Team Lakay, the connection will always be there. She is still a family to me even if we were in different disciplines in the SEA Games," said Iniong, who for her part won the gold medal in the women's lightweight category in kickboxing.

Truly, Olsim has enjoyed a supernova-like ascent after her run in the ONE Warrior Series.

In her first match, the 24-year-old turned heads as she stunned no. 5-ranked strawweight contender Maira Mazar with a submission victory at ONE: FISTS OF FURY 3 last March.

Showcasing her grit and the much talked about improved ground game from Team Lakay, Olsim caught Mazar to a guillotine choke and forced the Brazilian to submit 41 seconds into the third round.

It was a captivating victory that allowed Olsim to take Mazar's place in the ONE Athlete Rankings for the women's strawweight division.

But now, Olsim is making a move from the strawweight division to the atomweight division as she fights the always dangerous Bi "Killer Bee" Nguyen at ONE: BATTLEGROUND III on August 27 in Singapore.

Despite the changes in weight, Iniong has her full belief that Olsim can maintain her lethal kicks and equally improved ground game to get the victory.

"Jenelyn is a well rounded fighter. She has a great ground game and at the same time, she is also a muay thai fighter. Given this background, she can be creative inside the ring and adapt easily to the situation," she said.

Iniong, who also competes in ONE Championship's atomweight division, has also done her part in preparing Olsim for this leap, giving her insightful advice ahead of her fight against Nguyen.

"I just told her to play her game, stick to her plan, and trust herself. She has a great team and an amazing talent and skill set, and all she needs is to trust that and everything she worked hard for will all manifest inside the ONE Circle," she said.


Who knows, another statement win from Olsim in this match may just very well put her in another opportune situation in this new weight class, possibly a match against reigning ONE Women's Atomweight World Champion "Unstoppable" Angela Lee -- one Iniong is happy to vouch for.

"If Jenelyn continues to keep winning in the atomweight division, I think she can be a strong title contender," she said.