MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has tried everything to mitigate the continued spread of the coronavirus — from mandating face masks and face shields, to limiting transport and indoor capacities, to banning Christmas caroling and karaoke singing. Not to mention the motorcycle barriers. What else is left to regulate?

Leave it to the retired generals, technocrats and politicians in the IATF to think of the next move.

Today, IATF has issued a new order that imposes a minimum of six feet (2 meters) distance between motor vehicles plying the country’s roads and highways, with violators caught on CCTV facing fines, jail time or both.

Spokesperson Harry Roque told The Adobo Chronicles that the IATF believes keeping the said distance between vehicles will significantly reduce the chances of the virus being spread from person to person.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) praised the IATF move, saying that it will also solve the traffic problem that it has never solved for many decades. “We will never see EDSA and other roadways bumper to bumper again,” said MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago.

MASK. HUGAS. IWAStraffic.