Pinanindigan ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) ang ipinaiiral nilang ‘no vaccination, no ride policy,’ na nagbabawal sa mga hindi bakunadong indibidwal sa pagsakay sa mga pampublikong transportasyon sa National Capital Region (NCR), habang nasa ilalim pa ng Alert Level 3 o mas mataas ang rehiyon.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ng DOTr na binuo nila ang naturang polisiya upang protektahan ang lahat ng mga mamamayan, bakunado man o hindi, partikular na ang mga taong pinaka at risk o nanganganib sa sakit, ang healthcare system, at maging ang mga napapagal nang medical workers, ngayong muling nakakaranas ng surge sa COVID-19 cases ang Pilipinas.
“The policy is for the benefit of the majority and the common good. Hence, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause the riding public. It is important to note that the policy only takes effect while Alert Level 3 (or higher) is implemented to stem the surging cases of COVID-19, particularly with the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant,” ayon pa sa DOTr.
“Severe COVID-19 infections caused by non-vaccination result in an overwhelming of cases of hospitalization. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been very CLEAR: ‘while Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, it remains a dangerous virus, particularly for those who are unvaccinated,’” anito pa.
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Binigyang-diin ng DOTr na ang mas malala, kung maraming bilang ng mga public transport personnel ang dapuan ng virus, ay lalong darami ang magkakasakit, at maaaring maharap ang bansa sa panibagong ‘shutdown’ gaya nang naganap sa Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), mga linya ng Light Rail Transit (LRT) at ng Philippine National Rails (PNR), dahil ang mga pinaka-front-facing passengers ay infected na rin ng virus.
“WE WANT TO PREVENT ANOTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHUTDOWN. We are doing everything we can to maintain and keep our public transport operations safe and running. It will be a much heavy burden for commuters if we experience a repeat of public transport closures,” ayon pa sa DOTr.
“We also do not want businesses to shut down due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), our campaign is all-encompassing. If we do not act now, all industries and business sectors will be severely affected. Either the businesses will minimize workers, cut down on some parts of their business, retrench employees, or shut down to cut down on losses or pay off debts. And this affects not only the business owners but people who will lose their job and all those who depend on them,” dagdag pa ng departamento.
Para naman anila sa mga nagsasabing ang “no vaccination, no ride/entry” policy sa public transport ay ‘anti-poor, draconian o punitive,’ sinabi ng DOTr na, “we believe that it is more anti-poor and anti-life if we will not impose interventions that will prevent loss of life due to non-vaccinations. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE UNVACCINATED, BUT WE ARE PROTECTING THEM.”
“We would also wish to ensure the public that the implementation of the said policy will be both tolerant and firm,” anito pa.
Sa katanungan naman anila kung may legal na basehan ang polisiya, tinukoy ng DOTr ang resolusyon na inisyu ng Metro Manila Council (MMC) noong nakaraang linggo hinggil sa gabay para sa mga di bakunadong indibidwal.
Sa ilalim ng resolusyon, pinagbabawalan ang mga unvaccinated individuals mula sa pagsakay sa mga pampublikong transportasyon.
“This Resolution was approved and signed by ALL Metro Manila Mayors and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and is strongly supported by the IATF. Our Department Order was issued in support of that Resolution,” anang DOTr.
“Further, all LGU Ordinances in Metro Manila prohibit unvaccinated from using public transportation. We are supporting those local legal directives,” anito pa.
Binigyang-linaw rin naman ng DOTr na walang direktiba na nagbabawal sa pagbiyahe.
Maaari anilang bumiyahe ang mga unvaccinated individuals, gamit ang ibang pamamaraan, maliban sa public transport.
“To be clear, there is NO directive to prohibit travel. Unvaccinated individuals are allowed to travel by using other means aside from public transport. Even the Department Order of the DOTr has exceptions. Remember that the so-called right to ride needs to be balanced with our responsibility as transport regulator to maintain and preserve safe travel,” anang departamento.
“We would also like to inform the public that it is DOTr’s position that the "no vaccination, no ride/entry" policy does not violate RA 11525, which states that vaccine cards shall not be considered as additional mandatory requirement for educational, employment and other similar government transaction purposes. Access to public transportation is not among those enumerated in the prohibition. The Administrative Code prevails, which mandates DOTr to provide safe transportation services to the general public,” dagdag pa ng DOTr.
“The policy is also in line with the order of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to restrict the movement of people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 in Metro Manila, which is now experiencing an uptick in cases,” pahayag pa ng ahensiya. “As what the World Health Organization said: “You can’t put out half a fire. No one is safe, until we are all safe.”
Mary Ann Santiago
