Close to 2,000 commuters attempted to take Metro Manila’s rail lines without showing proof of their vaccination on the first day of implementation of the “no vax, no ride” in Metro Manila on Monday, Jan, 17, although it was generally peaceful, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) reported.
Specifically, a total of 1,749 commuters attempted to take Metro Manila’s rail lines without showing proof of their vaccination, DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan reported. Violators were only given warnings.
Of the violators, 1,204 were MRT-3 riders; 401 were LRT-1 riders; 136 were LRT-2 riders and 8 were Philippine National Railways (PNR) riders.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), the agencies enforcing the policy in the road sector, explained the guidelines of the DOTr order to commuters on the first day of the policy’s implementation.
Commuters were "very cooperative and are compliant" to the DOTr’s department order, according to the three agencies,
“According to reports from our men on the ground, most of the passengers were prepared for the policy. They voluntarily handed over their vaccination cards to our enforcers for thorough inspection and verification before boarding public utility vehicles (PUVs),” said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“Since this is just the first day of the policy’s implementation, our enforcers were instructed to just issue the violators warnings instead of outrightly apprehending them for non compliance,” added Assistant Secretary for Road and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor.
“These persons were later properly turned over to their respective local government units (LGUs) for assistance,” he noted.
Secretary Tugade issued the “no vaccination, no ride” policy on Monday, Jan. 17, to help curb the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 amid a recent spike in the number of infections in Metro Manila.
The “no vaccination, no ride” aims to protect too the unvaccinated from getting severe COVID-19 infections.
Its enforcement will be in effect while a COVID-19 Alert Level 3 level or higher remains hoisted in the NCR as to be determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).
Meanwhile, exempted from the “no vaccination, no ride” policy are the following:
• Persons with medical conditions that prevent their full COVID-19 vaccination as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate with the name and contact details of their doctor.
• Persons who will buy essential goods and services, such as but not limited to food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, energy, work, and medical and dental necessities, as shown by a duly issued barangay health pass or other proof to justify travel.