This Bus Firm Reconfigures Seats to Prepare for "New Normal"

A bus company is reconfiguring the layout of its seats as part of preparations for the return of transport services once Metro Manila shifts to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) on June 1, 2020.

DLTB Bus Co., a provincial bus line plying Southern Luzon routes, is making sure its bus units follow spacing requirements.

The video it put out on Facebook shows independent seats of three rows and two aisles, compared with the traditional seating plan of one aisle and two columns which have two to three passengers sitting beside each other.

In an interview with ABS-CBN's Teleradyo, DLTB chairman and chief exectuive officer Narciso Morales says that this plan is still awaiting the approval of the Department of Transportation.

Morales adds that his proposed seating plan complies with government guidelines.

However, it does not reduce bus passenger capacity by 50 percent, which would leave only 25 passengers for a 50-seater bus.

Morales says, "Magrereklamo ang mga bus operators dahil kulang po talaga iyon. Short po iyon, at malulugi ang operator."

Beginning June 1, resuming operations are a number of transport services, including buses, if in a limited capacity.

In effect, they can ply their routes again, but they will carry fewer passengers.