STARTING February 25, 2022, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated workers are no longer exempted from the “no vaccine, no ride/entry policy” being implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the increase in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said unvaccinated and partially vaccinated workers were given 30 more days to complete their inoculation against Covid-19, or they can no longer board or avail themselves of public transportation services.
He clarified, though, that this will only be implemented if Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 3, or if the quarantine status is further escalated.
Tuazon said this is to ensure the protection of both fully vaccinated individuals and those who have yet to get their jabs or complete it, as they are more at risk of getting severely or critically ill.
He said workers no longer have reasons not to get vaccinated considering the sufficient supply of vaccine doses in the country.
He added that this is also in support of the government’s effort to further intensify the vaccination drive especially amid the surge in cases brought about by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Tuazon clarified that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated workers may still report to work and use active transport, private vehicles or company shuttle services.
The measure was approved by the DOTr, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The DOTr issued the “no vaccination, no ride/entry” policy in Metro Manila following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to limit the mobility of the unvaccinated amid the spike in Covid-19 cases since the start of 2022. (SunStar Philippines)