Some 300 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers voluntarily underwent testing during the first day of the drive-thru surveillance swabbing Monday, the City Health Office (CHO) said.

Dr. Julinda Acosta, head of the Technical Division of CHO and in charge of the CHO Surveillance Team, said Tuesday the surveillance swabbing aims to test 500 PUV drivers per day until May 8.

Acosta noted that public transportation is one of the major sources of infection due to poor ventilation and sanitation.

“There is a high possibility of transmission among the drivers because the jeepneys, air-conditioned vehicles have poor ventilation, there is recirculation of contaminated air. Even for non-air-conditioned, those using plastic barriers can be a potential source of contamination,” she said.

On the other hand, CHO also conducted surveillance swabbing in the business process outsourcing (BPO) establishments, Barangay Bucana and 19-B, especially among “talipapa” vendors, pedicab drivers, and boarding house tenants on Monday (April 26).

CHO is set to conduct surveillance swabbing in specific areas in Catalunan Grande, Tacunan, Matina Aplaya, Km. 11, Sasa and the other identified high-risk areas.

Surveillance swabbing will also be conducted on bank employees, selected malls, and barangays after Ramadan.

The surveillance swabbing is mandated by Mayor Sara Z. Duterte’s executive order dated April 22, which seeks to intensify the city’s disease surveillance in public transport and delivery service sectors. (PNA)