For all the problems that the country is experiencing, it is hard to deny that things are moving. The delivery of cargo and goods like food has been consistent and a lot of our Overseas Filipino Workers are now in their homes because of coordination with the transportation sector.

This should be credited to Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and despite the criticisms being hurled against him, he had an actual plan to mobilize people at a crucial time when most parts of the country were transitioning to the General Community Quarantine.

Talking to officials involved in the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) meetings, they have detailed the policies and programs that Secretary Tugade has pushed and implemented since the start of the quarantine period.

First is the partial and gradual approach in mobility. This allowed the resumption of rail lines, bus augmentation systems, and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS). Second is his commitment to expand international aviation gateways to reduce the concentration of international landings and take-offs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Testing Laboratories in Clark, Pampanga and Cebu have also been part of his agenda to help in containment efforts against the spread of Covid-19. Tugade has also signified his commitment in establishing protected bike lanes along EDSA.

He has also promoted cashless payment systems and digitization of agency operations. At a time where social distancing is the norm, it is also vital to lessen physical transactions between the drivers, the public, and government workers.

It is also part of Secretary Tugade’s mandate to ensure the continuous operations of water transport. There are now 14 port projects that have been completed by the DOTr and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Together with the PPA, He is also overseeing the implementation of an electronic ticketing system on seaports so that face-to-face transactions can be avoided.

There are few mentions of his accomplishments but this is just part of Secretary Tugade’s burden as a government official in the era of isolation. Much is expected from him but his actions speak louder than his words and he appears to be committed to march on with solutions.