BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Vallacar Transit, Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner passenger buses in Negros Occidental, has started enforcing the “no vaccination, no ride” policy of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Passengers are now required to present coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination cards prior to boarding buses, according to Jade Seballos, VTI media relations officer.
This DOTr policy is observed in areas placed under Alert Level 3 to stem the surge in new COVID-19 infections.
The whole Negros Island, including Bacolod City, is under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 31.
Aside from presenting vaccination cards, passengers must also undergo body temperature screening, said Seballos.
For humanitarian consideration, Ceres buses have been allowed to pick up passengers along the way provided they also show their COVID-19 vaccine cards.
Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade recently said the “no vaccination, no ride” policy is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to restrict the movement of people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19.
A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after receiving a second dose of a two-dose vaccination series or a single-dose vaccine.
Exempted from the DOTr “no vaccination, no ride” policy are the following:
* persons with medical conditions that prevent their full COVID-19 vaccination, as shown by a duly-signed medical certificate with the name and contact details of their doctor
* persons who will buy essential goods and services, such as food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, energy, work, and medical and dental necessities, as shown by a duly issued barangay/PN
