Violators to get warning in first week of 'No vax, no ride'

MANILA, Philippines — Commuters who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 will not receive sanctions on the first week of implementation of the government’s “no vaccination, no ride” policy in Metro Manila, which starts tomorrow, Jan. 17.

Lt. Col. Joel Mendoza, who heads the Highway Patrol Group (HPG)’s regional highway patrol unit, said unvaccinated commuters will only receive a warning from lawmen instead of citation tickets.

“A warning for now within one week… but we still won’t let them ride public utility vehicles,” he said in Filipino over radio dzBB.

Unvaccinated people are prohibited from riding public utility vehicles while the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3, based on the policy of the Department of Transportation.

Persons with medical conditions that present their full COVD-19 vaccination as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate with the name and contact details of their physician are exempted from the no vaccination, no ride policy.

Mendoza said the HPG will conduct operations together with the Land Transportation Office and other concerned agencies against colorum vehicles which might be transporting unvaccinated people in Metro Manila.

For people with only digital or scanned copies of their vaccination cards, Mendoza said they should also bring valid identification cards from the government or the companies where they are employed for verification.