LGUs outside NCR to pass 'no vaccine, no ride' policy —ULAP

Local government units outside Metro Manila will issue executive orders to implement the "no vaccine, no ride" policy in their respective areas, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president and Quirino Governor Dakila Cua said Sunday. 

Currently, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) prohibited the unvaccinated from using public transportation, citing the Metro Manila Council (MMC) resolution as legal basis to implement it. 

Despite criticisms from drivers on the DOTr rule, Cua said they will introduce modifications in their version of the "no vaccine, no ride" policy.

"Maraming lokal na pamahalaan na sinisimulang mag-usap at magpanukala ng executive orders tungkol dito. 'Yung 'no vax, no ride policy,'" he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(Many LGUs are now talking and implementing executive orders on the "no vax, no ride policy.")

"May kaunting modifications nga at usually improvements nga. I-qualify natin sino talaga. Kung lalabas ang vaccinated na magulang at kailangang i-doktor ang anak na hindi pa bakunado, kailangan naman may ganoong accommodations," Cua also explained.

(We will impose some modifications and usually improvements. We will qualify who are eligible to use public transportation. If the parents are vaccinated and they need to send their unvaccinated child to the doctor, there should be accommodations.)

Cua said he is also in favor of restricting the movement of the unvaccinated to slow down the transmission of the virus.

"Nakakatulong po 'yung bagong polisiya natin. 'Yung kapag vaccinated ka mas maraming pribilehiyo. Puwede ka lumabas, puwede ka sumakay sa pampublikong transportasyon (This new policy can really help. When you are vaccinated, you have more privileges. You can go outside, you can use public transportation)," he said.

In Metro Manila, several public transport drivers lamented the implementation of the policy of prohibiting the unvaccinated in public transportation, adding that they will have fewer passengers at a time that they are already not earning as much.

On Saturday, the Philippines recorded a total caseload of 3,168,379 COVID-19 cases including 2,834,708 recoveries and 52,858 deaths. —KG, GMA News