PUV drivers express concerns over ‘no vax, no ride’ policy

Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers on Sunday were concerned over the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr's) “no vaccination, no ride” public transportation policy as they may be the ones penalized if an unvaccinated passenger is caught in their vehicle.

In Dano Tingcungco's 24 Oras Weekend report, a tricycle driver said that their daily earnings might be affected if they would not allow those without vaccine cards to ride, following the DOTr’s policy that the unvaccinated are barred from using public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) while the area is under Alert Level 3 or higher.

“Ayon nga ‘yung magiging problema namin kasi bihira lang ‘yung may ano dito siguro—‘yung pumapasok na may ano (vaccine card). Eh kung hindi kami magsasakay no’n, wala kaming kikitain lahat,” the tricycle driver said.

(That is our problem because only a few go out bringing their vaccine cards. If we would not let them ride, we would not earn anything.)

Meanwhile, a taxi driver said that unvaccinated individuals who would violate this policy should be the ones to be penalized and not the drivers or operators themselves.

“Kung halimbawa mang may naisakay kaming hindi bakunado, ang ticket-an nila ‘yung hindi bakunado, hindi ‘yung driver. Ang hirap ng biyahe ngayon, kailangan naming kumita,” he said.

(If an unvaccinated person rides, we hope that they will be the ones to get the penalty and not us drivers. It is difficult to travel nowadays and we need to earn.)

DOTr Road Transport Sector Assistant Mark Steven Pastor said on Friday that drivers and operators can be penalized under Article I, Section J of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 for violating the “no vaccination, no ride” policy. ]

They may face fines from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on how many times the policy is violated and their franchise could be suspended depending on the gravity of the offense committed.

Passengers or the commuting public can be penalized for violating their respective LGUs’ ordinances such as restricting mobility for the unvaccinated, according to DOTr.

However, for the first week of its implementation, commuters who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 will only get a warning, said the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group in the NCR.

The DOTr will also be deploying “mystery passengers” in PUVs to ensure the public road transport sector’s compliance with its “no vaccination, no ride” policy that will be fully enforced starting Monday. — Giselle Ombay/DVM, GMA News