Beginning Tuesday, February 1, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will temporarily suspend the implementation of the ‘no vaccination, no ride policy’ on public transportation in Metro Manila.
This is also followed by the government in the National Capital Region (NCR) subject to Alert Level 2, from February 1 to 15.
This means that commuters in the capital region will no longer need to present vaccination cards or proof that they have been vaccinated with COVID-19 to board public transportation.
“Once we de-escalate to Alert Level 2, the no vaxx, no ride policy shall automatically be lifted,” said DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran.
The DOTr previously said the policy would only apply when an area is under Alert Level 3 and above.
Apart from Metro Manila, the provinces of Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan will also be subject to Alert Level 2.
Last week, the government announced that unvaccinated and partially vaccinated workers in Metro Manila could use public transport for the next 30 days starting January 26.
According to DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Service and official representative to the Inter-Agency Task Force Artemio Tuazon Jr., the 30-day should urge workers to complete their COVID-19 doses.
Motorcycles taxi bill pushed
Thousands of motorcycle drivers had called on the Senate to prioritize passing a year-long pending Senate Bill No. 1341 or The Motorcycles-for-Hire Act even before the election came and Congress changed.
Last week, Congressman Edgar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, pushed for the passage of such a proposal in the Lower House. It is up to Senator Grace Poe as chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services to pass the measure.
The call came from members of the Brotherhood on Two Wheels (Kagulong), who also want the MC taxi business to be open to everyone. However, it was learned that the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the DOTr allegedly limited the business to Joyride, Angkas, and Move It.
According to Don Pangan, Secretary-General of Kagulong, the lack of the relevant law is why there is no proper regulatory mechanism, and the system cannot regulate in this regard.
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