MANILA - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday said she is allowing taxis and tricycles to continue operations even as the city has been placed under enhanced community quarantine because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, Duterte-Carpio said her decision is based on the memorandum earlier issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) last March 21.

Based on the guidelines set by the DILG, taxis and tricycles will be allowed to operate in Davao City, provided that there will only be a maximum of two passengers per vehicle.

Private vehicles and taxis are only allowed to have 1 driver and 1 passenger in front, and another 1 at the back.

Tricycles will also be allowed to have a passenger and a driver in front, and another 1 at the back.

Only single riders are allowed on bicycles and motorcycles.

The city will also provide free bus rides for employees exempted from the ECQ, such as health workers and other frontliners.

"If the City Government of Davao will not allow taxis and tricycles to move the general public for their basic necessities, we will be caught in an absurd situation where people who own vehicles can easily move around and the general public would resort to walking more than 20 kms just to buy food and other basic necessities," Duterte-Carpio said in her statement.

She also welcomes any proposal on how to individually transport approximately 400,000 individuals who are going to hospitals, clinics, grocery stores, public markets ad other establishments providing basic goods.

Duterte-Carpio, likewise, said she will be welcoming any inquiry that would be made by the DILG and the National Bureau of Investigation because of her decision.

Davao Region as of Sunday tallied 80 cases of the respiratory disease, including 11 deaths and 21 patients who recovered. - with a report from Vina Araneta, ABS-CBN News