Public slams DOTr ‘s No Vax, No Ride policy, calls it anti-poor
By Sean Gere Pascual
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) enacted its no vaccination, no ride policy last January 17. It aimed to further restrict the movements of the unvaccinated in all public transportation of Metro Manila. However, just two days after the implementation, DOTr made abrupt adjustments after hundreds of stranded and inconvenienced commuters expressed grievances against the mandate.
No Vax, No Ride policy
The DOTr order warrants that only the fully vaccinated could ride public transportation by presenting their vaccination cards and a valid or government-issued identification card with picture and address. To be considered fully vaccinated, an individual must be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the day of implementation as necessitated in the policy. The policy covers land, sea, and air travel within Metro Manila.
Furthermore, persons with medical conditions that prohibit their full vaccination as well as persons who would buy essential goods and services, are exempted from the strict and firm directive.
Approach and Penalties
The DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark Pastor stated that a whole of government approach is targeted by the department to guarantee the smooth implementation of the policy. In addition to the collaboration of DOTr with state agencies, mystery passengers or disguised personnel as regular passengers were also deployed to ensure the proper execution of the strategy.
Since the implementation just started, violators will just be given warnings.
In the long-run, non-compliance of the policy would include fines of PHP 1,000 to 10,000 for PUV operators and drivers or even suspension of their PUV franchise, with the offense fee dependent on the seriousness of the breach. As for the passengers, violations would face sanctions such as fines ranging from PHP 500 to 5,000 fines or confinement for five days up to six months. Such penalties are not under jurisdiction of the DOTr but are still subject to punishment under LGU ordinances.
Public Response
On the first day of implementation, hundreds of passengers, especially employees, were left stranded as they missed their rides to work. Workers were angered, disappointed, and drained because most of them were forced to wake up early in the morning to secure their travel to work. However, in the end even the partially vaccinated individuals were denied public transportation.
With these, the inconveniences brought about by the No Vax, No Ride policy went viral on social networks, with thousands of concerned citizens criticizing the anti-poor policy.
In response to the increasing complaints and grievances, DOTr abruptly adjusted their policy and allowed either vaccinated or unvaccinated to ride public transportation given that they present documents like identification cards, as proof that their travel is essential.
