Unvaxxed persons temporarily prohibited in PUVs under Alert Level 3

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said unvaccinated individuals, minors, and senior citizens will be temporarily barred from using public transportation while Metro Manila was under the more stringent Alert Level 3.

This, after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) issued on Monday, Jan. 3, a resolution restricting the movement of unvaccinated individuals as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

"The DOTr recognizes and fully supports the Resolution issued by the Metro Manila Council, which was approved by the Mayors of the cities and municipality in the National Capital Region (NCR)," the Department said in a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Under the resolution, all the 17 mayors of Metro Manila have agreed to implement a lockdown on all the unvaccinated individuals in the metropolis amid the rising number of cases in the capital region.

The ban will cover domestic travel via land, sea, and air public transport "except for the procurement of essential goods and services, subject to the production of proof to support and justify such travel."

The same prohibition will also be imposed among pregnant women, and persons with comorbidities, even if they have already received COVID-19 jabs.

"The DOTr and its attached agencies shall closely coordinate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on the enforcement of the said policy," the Department said.

The MMC said the resolution "shall be in effect while the COVID-19 alert level in NCR is Alert Level 3 or higher and shall automatically be lifted once Alert Level 2 or lower is declared."

The DOTr clarified that the directive will not be imposed immediately as the MMDA is yet to publish first the resolution. The MMDA also encouraged local government units to create local ordinances to enforce the guidelines.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade earlier directed public transport operators to impose tighter health protocols inside public utility vehicles (PUVs) and terminals under Alert Level 3.

Tugade added that the maximum passenger capacity in PUVs will remain at 70 percent to cater to the expected influx of passengers going back from provinces after the holiday season.

Penalties for violating PUV franchise conditions range from hefty fines to the impounding of the involved unit while erring drivers can get their licenses suspended or face additional criminal complaints, the DOTr warned.

Alert Level 3 was hoisted over Metro Manila from Jan. 3 to 15, amid the rising cases of infection in the past days. Cavite, Bulacan, and Rizal were also placed under the same alert level starting Jan. 5 to 15.