The government and private sector are teaming up to explore the proposed vaccination of public utility bus drivers against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to help ensure safe mobility.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion recently met with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and representatives of transport groups to discuss efforts to create the transport "bubble" for the fully vaccinated.

Concepcion earlier proposed the deployment of buses for fully vaccinated passengers in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Palace said the government would look into Concepcion's idea only after Metro Manila has reached population protection, or 50 percent of its population have become fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

In a statement Thursday, August 19, Concepcion and Tugade "are exploring the possibility of vaccinating the country’s public utility bus drivers, in a bid to deploy buses for fully vaccinated passengers in the National Capital Region (NCR)."

“We are looking at deploying buses for fully-vaccinated passengers to protect them from getting infected by the unvaccinated ones," Concepcion said.

"With this, our public transportation can actually bridge the gap between homes and workplaces, which will in turn help us create ‘micro-herd immunity’ through the safety provided by these protective bubbles,” he added.

Tugade thanked Concepcion for his efforts to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic. He also asked for Concepcion's assistance to allocate 40,000 doses for the PUV drivers. The President's adviser promised to do his best to make this possible.

Concepcion pointed out that the work bubbles have become a growing trend given the intensified vaccination drive in the country.

‘In fact, I’m glad to share that most of the factory workers in my company are already vaccinated, and with this, our company actually creates ‘micro-herd immunity’ in their workplaces,” he said.