MANILA - The country's transportation chief on Saturday ordered airport authorities to "seriously consider" reopening airports in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) in a bid to jumpstart domestic tourism amid the coronavirus crisis.

This as several parts of the country have been placed in loosened lockdown measures starting Friday. The Department of Tourism earlier said domestic tourism may be the key to reviving the industry hit hard by the crisis that had prompted travel restrictions across the globe.

• READ:Family road trips, domestic travel may be key to reviving PH tourism: DOT

“The reopening of airports in GCQ areas to commercial aviation will gradually jump start airline operations now hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will plant the seeds for domestic tourism. This should seriously be considered,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement.

The suggestion was discussed during a teleconference with airport authorities last April 30.

Airlines have already been "capable of mounting inter-island flights" to and from areas under general community quarantine, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco said.

“Some airlines are readily capable of mounting inter-island flights to serve communities from one GCQ area to another GCQ area using the inter Visayas and/or Inter Mindanao air routes,” Sydiongco said, citing a "Hub and Spoke" model where carriers can use regional airports as an alternative airport hub.

The Luzon-wide lockdown ended on April 30, while the enhanced community quarantine, which bars public transport, remained enforced in several areas, including Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cebu province and Davao City, where key international airports are located.

The ECQ will remain enforced until at least May 15.

The rest of the country has shifted to the general quarantine, so called the "new normal" starting May 1.

"We want to operationalize this approach before the end of next week, but of course without compromising health and safety protocols set by the IATF (Inter Agency Task Force) and the Department of Health. Pag-iisipan namin kung paano ito maisasagawa ng maayos at mabilis (We will think about how to implement this properly and fast)," Tugade said.

NEW NORMAL IN METRO MANILA

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also laid the groundwork for when Metro Manila implements the new normal should authorities choose to lift the enhanced community quarantine by May 16, based on guidelines issued by the agency on its Facebook page, Friday evening.

• Support for bikes, mandatory face masks and a ban on Angkas: DOTr lays down 'new normal'

Physical distancing will be implemented in all forms of transport, which will all operate at a limited capacity under the general community quarantine.

Train stations will have to place markings and signages for waiting and traversing passengers and there should be a meter-wide gap in between them.

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Trains can only operate at a "10 to 13-percent capacity," according to the DOTr. Passengers are also required to wear face masks, while the following are barred from riding trains:

1) those with a temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius
2) pregnant women
3) infants
4) senior citizens

Tricycles can only take in one passenger, while taxis and transport network vehicle services can take just up to three. Plastic barriers will also be placed in between drivers and passengers for his safety.

Passengers will not be allowed to stand up while riding buses and plastic barriers. DOTr has also said before that motorcycle taxis will be barred from taking in passengers.

-- With a report from Jekki Pascual, ABS-CBN News