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The Department of Transportation ordered the imposition of a “no vaccination, no ride/no entry” policy initially in the National Capital Region
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The order will be in force while COVID-19 Alert Level 3 or higher is in effect
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Exempt are persons who will buy essential goods and services, as shown by a barangay health pass or other proof to justify travel
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade ordered the enforcement of a “no vaccination, no ride/no entry” policy initially in the National Capital Region (NCR).
In Department Order (DO) 2022-001, Tugade said the enforcement of the policy will be in effect while a COVID-19 Alert Level 3 level or higher remains hoisted in the NCR as determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF).
The order, which takes effect starting Jan. 17 (Monday), will apply to all domestic travels to, from and within the National Capital Region (NCR) via land, rail, sea and air public transport, Transportation Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said at a virtual press briefing hours after the order was released.
The DO follows President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to restrict the movement of unvaccinated people in Metro Manila, which is now experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The Metro Manila Council, comprising all NCR mayors, subsequently passed a resolution urging various local government units in Metro Manila to pass their respective ordinances on enhanced restrictions on the movement of unvaccinated persons.
The DOTr has asked assistance from the Philippine National Police along with enforcers from the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, to enforce this order, Tuazon said.
“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 transportation department order read.
According to the DO, a person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving their second dose in a two-dose vaccination series, such as with the Pfizer or Moderna brand of vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine such as with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Exempt 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.
- Under the order, violations of the policy are considered violations of applicable general safety and health provisions under any concession or service agreements, authority or permits to operate of public transportation, and other similar instrument.(Updated on Jan 13, 9:40am, to include effectivity date of the order.)
