The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is implementing a "no vaccine, no ride" policy in public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) while it is placed under Alert Level 3.
Under Department Order No. 2022-001 issued on January 11, 2022, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said the order will also cover individuals who live outside Metro Manila but work or travel inside the area.
"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 copy 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 order read.
"In general, a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines; or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine," it added.
The order also covers "all domestic travel to, from, and within NCR via public transportation by land, rail, sea, and air."
DOTr's new directive comes following the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals in Metro Manila.
However, Tugade said the following cases are exempted from the “no vaccine, no ride” policy:
• 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 the travel.
The order takes effect immediately after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, and the submission of a copy with the Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P. Law Center.
"Any violation of this [order] by operators of public transportation shall be considered a violation of applicable general safety and health provisions under any concession or service agreements, authority or permit to operate, or other similar instruments," the order further read.
