UNVACCINATED and partially vaccinated individuals in Metro Manila are not allowed even to board flights, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

Caap Chief of Staff Attorney Danjun Lucas said they implemented a two-pronged approach for the enforcement of the “no vaccination, no ride/entry” policy issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in a bid to restrict the mobility of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals amid the spike of Covid-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR).

He said security personnel were conducting initial screening of the vaccination cards of all the passengers entering the airports, while the ticketing staff will conduct another round of verification before they receive their boarding pass.

He reiterated that a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the individual’s second dose.

Lucas said only persons with medical conditions that prevent their full Covid-19 vaccination as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate, and those who will buy or avail themselves of essential goods and services are exempted from the policy in accordance to the DOTr’s order.

“Hindi po kasama doon talaga kahit magpakita po sila ng negative RT-PCR, sa Department Order, hindi po nasasaad doon. Ang exemption lang po sa ngayon essential travel,” he said during a Laging Handa press briefing.

“Papayagan lamang po kapag makapagpakita sila kahit sila ay partially vaccinated na ang kanila pong travel ay maikokonsidera na essential travel at kung sila po ay returning resident papunta ng NCR, pabalik sa kanilang mga residence sa Metro Manila,” he added.

In a Palace briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello clarified that workers were exempted from the policy.

He said worker’s company identification should suffice to avail themselves of the exemption. (SunStar Philippines)