CHR on ‘no vax, no ride policy’: Is it a reasonable response amid COVID-19 pandemic?

The government should provide a non-discriminatory and reasonable COVID-19 pandemic response instead of the implementation of the “no vaccine, no ride” policy, according to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

On “The Mangahas Interviews,” CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said the “no vaccine, no ride” policy restricts the public from exercising their freedom of mobility and movement.

She, however, acknowledged that the government can restrict certain rights because of certain circumstances amid the COVID-19 threat.

“Pero ang ating tanong, is that a proportional response to public health? Is it necessary, is it reasonable, is it non-discriminatory? So dapat yung mga standards na ‘yan bago pa gumawa ng ordinansa eh pumasa muna, tignan lahat itong mga standards na ito,” Pimentel-Gana said.

(Is it a proportional response to public health? Is it necessary, is it reasonable, is it non-discriminatory? So these standards must be answered before making an ordinance, they must look at all these standards.)

“Hindi ba dapat ang polisiya ng gobyerno dapat protektahan both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated. So, sino ngayon ang nadi-discriminate sa ordinansang ito, ‘yun ang dapat sagutin ng ating mga policy makers,” she added.

(The government policy should protect both the unvaccinated and the vaccinated individuals. So, who are now discriminated against by this ordinance, that is what our policy makers should answer.)

The Department of Transportation implemented on Monday the policy imposing a ban on unvaccinated individuals from using public transportation in Metro Manila while the region is under Alert Level 3 or higher or the "No vaccination, no ride" policy.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade issued Department Order No. 2022-001, which allows public transportation access only to fully vaccinated individuals.

A full vaccination status can be proven by either physical or digital copies of local government unit-issued vaccine card, Department of Health-issued vaccine certification, or any Inter-Agency Task Force-prescribed document with valid government-issued ID with picture and address. -- Richa Noriega/BAP, GMA News