Juan Miguel Severo. Image: Facebook/@JuanMiguelSevero
Spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo, along with other concerned citizens and celebrities, has been finding ways to maximize technology and online platforms to help health workers who are in the front lines of battling COVID-19. Severo is looking at additional solutions for their transportation, which can also benefit those whose jobs are not suspended.
Severo addressed “anyone whose work isn’t suspended” to find a ride through the hashtag #INeedARide, via his Twitter account, yesterday, March 17. He urged more people to help these employees.
Since President Rodrigo Duterte enforced the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine which suspended mass transportation services, health workers and employees rendering essential services in Metro Manila have been stranded or are experiencing difficulty getting to their workplaces. In response, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed its trucks and buses to help them.
Amid the transportation chaos of the past few days, the actor created a thread in Twitter that would show carpool services around the metro.
“Dear health workers/anyone whose work isn’t suspended today: If you need a ride, please reply to this thread with #INeedARide and your route,” Severo announced. “If you’re a private citizen [with a] car [who’s] willing to drop them off, check [the] hashtag to see [if] you can accommodate someone. Let’s do this.”
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1239790272004804608
Severo then reminded people to practice social distancing if they are to transport stranded commuters.
“Those who will share their ride with others—given, but just in case it still needs reiteration— please don’t pack your car with passengers,” he stressed. “Leave room. Act like you’re a carrier and do not spread the virus.”
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1239823320586969089
A Facebook group dedicated to carpooling employees of the Philippine General Hospital was also mentioned by a doctor, Ron Baticulon (@ronibats), in Severo’s thread.
This is an FB group for PGH carpool: https://t.co/JNP6vFYxqr
— Ronnie E. Baticulon (@ronibats) March 17, 2020
Meanwhile, former Bayan Muna party list representative Teddy Casiño offered to pick up health professionals in the Makati area, via his Twitter page yesterday. The post was retweeted by Severo and included in the carpooling thread.
“I am offering to pick up doctors, nurses or other health professionals needing a ride in the Makati area,” Casiño said.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1239796793090519041
Severo has also offered his home to health care professionals stranded during the enhanced community quarantine. Musician Bullet Dumas called for people who own properties near hospitals to rent out their spaces or offer these to health workers for free.
The Office of the Vice President is also providing free shuttle services to health workers and other employees staring today, March 18. The transportation service will have six major routes: Alabang-Magallanes to Tayuman in Manila; EDSA-Roxas Boulevard to EDSA Quezon Avenue MRT; SM Mall of Asia EDSA to Sta. Lucia East in Cainta; SM Fairview to Lawton, Manila; and Balintawak LRT to Heritage Hotel in EDSA. JB
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