DOTr: ‘No vax, no ride’ policy to be implemented in NCR

MANILA: In accordance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to limit the movement of people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Metro Manila, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade issued an order enforcing a “no vaccination, no ride/no entry” policy in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Sec. Tugade noted in his Department Order (DO) that the “no vaccine, no ride” policy will be enforced as long as a COVID-19 Alert Level 3 or higher is implemented in the NCR, as established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).

Following the president’s directive, the Metro Manila Council, which is made up of all the mayors of NCR, approved a resolution encouraging the local government units of Metro Manila to establish their respective ordinances imposing further restrictions on the movement of unvaccinated persons.

Sec. Tugade stated that the DO takes effect immediately once it is published in the Official Gazette or a general circulation newspaper, and once a copy is submitted to the Office of the National Administrative Register.

“All concerned attached agencies and sectoral offices of DOTr are directed to ensure that operators of public transportation shall allow access or issue tickets only to ‘fully vaccinated persons’ as evidenced by a physical or digital copies of an LGU (local government unit)-issued vaccine card, or any IATF-prescribed document, with a valid government issued ID with picture and address,” the DOTr department order stated.

It is also noted on the DO that a person is deemed fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving the second dose of a two-dose vaccination series, such as with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

Persons with medical conditions that prevent them from receiving full COVID-19 vaccination as evidenced by a duly signed medical certificate indicating their doctor’s name and contact information, as well as those who will buy essential goods and services as shown by a duly issued barangay health pass or other proof to justify travel, are exempted from the “no vaccination, no ride” policy.

According to the DO, a breach of this policy is considered a violation of applicable health and safety protocols under any concession or service agreements, authorization, or permits to operate public transportation and other similar instrument.

Photo from Department of Transportation

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