A free ride intended for health workers and hospital support staff is now operational in this city and to nearby town during the enhanced community quarantine period.

Since mass transportation is suspended, some health workers need to walk from home to pick-up points and in crossing borders, An Waray Partylist Rep. Florencio Noel said during the launching on Sunday.

“We also instituted safety and precautionary measures to be observed inside the vehicle,” Noel told reporters.

Medical front-liners should present their identification cards to avail the free ride, submit to body temperature check, use hand sanitizers, step on disinfecting foot bathe, and observe social distancing inside the vehicle.

The two vehicles, with three routes dubbed as “Biyahero,” will be sanitized after each trip.

It will transport front-liners from Robinsons Marasbaras to Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo town, Schistosomiasis Hospital also in Palo, and to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in the northern part of the city.

Another route will also drive health workers to various government and private hospitals within the city’s commercial district.

Noel said the program is “just a little nudge of support” compared to their sacrifice of risking their lives just to keep citizens safe and free from coronavirus disease 2019. (PNA)