Officials clarified that the “no vaccination, no ride” policy on public transportation does not include workers entering work, even if they have not been vaccinated or have only had first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III clarified after a female worker was reported to have cried in frustration after she was not allowed to board when authorities learned that she had only one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
“They are exempted from the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy. Very clear ‘yan, so there should be no reason to doubt or to question the policy… Exempted po ang mga workers natin,” said Bello in a virtual briefing with Nograles on Tuesday.
“They are rendering essential services. Pag hininto mo mga ‘yan, paano gagalaw ang ating mga negosyo? ‘Pag walang negosyo, walang ekonomiya, so luckily, exempted ang ating mga workers,” he added.
Earlier, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) implemented a “no vax, no ride” policy to limit the movement of unvaccinated people in the face of the rise of COVID-19 in Metro Manila.
Those with medical conditions who cannot inject COVID-19 vaccination as long as they can show a medical certificate are exempted from this policy. Also exempted are buyers and needs of essential goods and services.
Unvaccinated, partially vaccinated workers exempted from ‘no vax, no ride’ policy
On Monday, it was reported that a woman going to a medical exam at work was not allowed to board because she only had the first dose on her vaccine card.
Her second dose is scheduled to be injected in February.
“Kailangan lang siguro ng mass information drive to inform not only the public, but especially the enforcing agencies — mga pulis, taga-DOTr. Alam nila dapat [na]workers are exempted from this ‘no vax, no ride policy’,” said Bello.
He said the workers only need to show company identification cards to ride public transportation.
“[Y]ou need to present proof na ikaw eh talagang doon papunta, gaya ng ID na magpapatunay na ikaw ay empleyado doon, o kaya naman medical appointment, certificate/appointment from the company na may interview or exam ka, or health pass from the barangay that you will obtain essential goods, among others,” the said.
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