MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) line agencies will levy fines and penalties against drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) who violate the “no vaccination, no ride policy” in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting Tuesday.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran stated traffic enforcers from the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), Land Transportation (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Highway Patrol Group (HPG) are currently issuing warnings against breachers.
However, she said that traffic enforcers under some local government units (LGU) have started charging fines.
“LGUs are not under DOTr. They are operating and issuing tickets in line with their respective ordinances,” Libiran stated.
Under the LTFRB, she said PUV drivers and operators that violate the mandatory vaccination policy will be fined PHP5,000 for a first offense and PHP10,000 for a second offense as well as impounding of their PUV for 30 days.
She stated that for the third offense, erring drivers and operators will be fined PHP15,000 and have their franchise suspended or canceled.
The enactment of the mandatory vaccination policy in public transportation officially started on Monday in a joint operation by the I-ACT with the PNP and LTFRB in major NCR thoroughfares.
The I-ACT said on Facebook that passengers who failed to present a vaccination card or relevant documents proving their exemption were denied boarding PUVs.
It stated that 160 passengers were barred on the first day of implementation of the policy, in addition to other violations such as excess passenger, obstruction, inspection report summons, and overloading.
“Muling hinihikayat ng I-ACT ang publiko na makiisa sa pagpapatupad ng mga nasabing patakaran upang mas maging komportable at ligtas ang pampublikong transportasyon sa disgrasya at Covid-19 (Once, again, the I-ACT asks the public to cooperate with the implementation of the said policy to ensure a more comfortable and safer public transportation from Covid-19),” the I-ACT said.
The DOTr earlier released a department order permitting only those fully vaccinated from taking public transportation to, from, and within the NCR.
The policy, which exempts those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical reasons and need to acquire essential goods and services, is only in effect while the NCR is under Alert Level 3 or higher.
relaxing music
jazz work coffee