BACOLOD City Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairperson of the City Council committee on transportation, is not in favor of the implementation of the "no vaccination, no ride" policy.

This, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a directive for the implementation of the "no vaccination, no ride" policy, which bans individuals who are not fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) from riding public utility vehicles (PUVs).

In Negros Occidental, the Vallacar Transit Incorporated (VTI) also started implementing the "no vaccination, no ride" policy, in compliance with the directive of the DOTr.

The bus firm clarified, however, that only the passengers originating from Negros Oriental and other areas in the country placed under Alert Level 3 in terms of Covid-19 transmission are the ones covered by the policy.

"For me, it is unconstitutional because it should have a law. We cannot control the movement of the people without any law," said Ramos, a lawyer by profession, adding that it is unfair not to accommodate the commuter who is not vaccinated.

He also said that hopefully, the city's PUV drivers will accommodate the unvaccinated commuters.

The DOTr earlier said that the policy only takes effect while Alert Level 3 is implemented to stem the surging cases of Covid-19, particularly with the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant of Sars-Cov-2 that causes the disease.

Negros Island, including highly-urbanized Bacolod City, is now on Alert Level 3 in terms of virus transmission.