Solon tells unvaxxed: Comply with public transpo policy for now

A lawmaker on Wednesday asked the unvaccinated to comply with "no vaccine, no entry" policy in public transportation, which was recently implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a statement, Samar Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento said  the unvaccinated must follow the policy until the number of COVID-19 cases decrease.

"I think that our people who are unvaccinated for whatever reason should comply for now with the requirement of the DoTr until the transmission becomes more manageable," Sarmiento, chairperson for the House committee on transportation, said.

He also urged the transportation department to revoke the order once the transmission of the virus becomes manageable.

"However, I also call on the DoTr to immediately recall this order as soon as the transmission slows down so as not to unduly curtail the rights of those who are still unvaccinated," he said.

The DOTr imposed the policy to follow President Rodrigo Duterte orders on restricting the movement of unvaccinated people in the National Capital Region.

But presidential aspirant and labor leader Leody de Guzman said the transport policy has no legal basis, adding that it violates the civil rights of the public.

De Guzman called for an intensive vaccination drive to help the medical frontliners and patients amid the rising COVID-19 infections.

In response to the backlash, DOTr said its order is neither anti-poor nor anti-life.

“Severe COVID infections caused by non-vaccination result to undue burden on our health care system,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Libiran said in a statement.

As of January 12, the Philippines has fully vaccinated 53 million individuals, which falls short of its original target in 2021 to fully inoculate 54 million Filipinos.

Currently, the national government raised its target to fully inoculate 90 million Filipinos even as there are issues in despite hurdles in speeding up vaccination. -- Consuelo Marquez/BAP, GMA News