BY NOEL TALACAY and MYLA IGLESIAS
ONLY vaccinated travelers will be allowed entry in all Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals starting today, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) yesterday announced in support of the “No Vaccination, No Ride” policy of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) which kicks off Monday.
“In a time as sensitive as a pandemic, prioritizing safety is a must. CAAP believes that the DOTr’s ‘No Vaccination, No Ride’ policy will reinforce the importance of ensuring that public spaces such as airport terminals and aircraft remain as safe spaces for everyone that utilizes them,” CAAP Director General Captain Jim C. Sydiongco said in a statement
Sydiongco said the order is contained in Memorandum Circular 02-2022, which will remain effective as long as Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3, and when the alert level is upgraded is upgraded by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID).
In separate statements, the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines backed the CAAP’s directive.
PAL chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria lauded the initiative, while Air Asia Philippines chief executive officer Ricky Isla said the policy would encourage the unvaccinated to be inoculated.
Cebu Pacific Air vice president for marketing and customer experience Candice Iyog said the airline will comply with the government order.
The CAAP circular covers all individuals entering CAAP-operated facilities and domestic passengers traveling to and from the NCR via any domestic or foreign air operator.
Under the DOTr’s new policy on public utility vehicles operating in Metro Manila, public transports, including airlines, are only allowed to accept fully vaccinated passengers.
Travelers are considered fully vaccinated if at least two weeks have elapsed after their second dose of a two-dose COVID vaccine, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose COVID vaccine.
Passengers with medical condition may be exempted and those traveling to procure essential goods and services. However, the passenger if exempted are required to present a negative RT-PCR test result taken within the last 48 hours before entry into the departure terminal.
Airlines will also temporarily not accept unvaccinated children for boarding on domestic flights to and from Manila, unless they belong under one of the exceptions.
FAKE DOCS
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) warned Metro commuters against presenting fake vaccine cards or medical certificates so they can board PUVs.
LTFRB-NCR director Zona Tamayo said criminal charges maybe filed against riders who will present fake documents.
“Vaccine card or a duly-signed medical certificate issued by any local government is considered as public documents, thus falsification of such may result in criminal offense,” Tamayo said, adding such criminal offense includes imprisonment and penalties.
LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano encouraged PUV drivers to report traffic enforcers who may abuse the new policy and extort money from both drivers and riders.
“We won’t allow extortion. That’s why we’re telling our drivers and operators, if there are such situations, the government is open for reports,” Bolano said.
The DOTr over the weekend said it will deploy mystery passengers in public transports to ensure compliance with the policy.
It said that any PUV driver caught allowing unvaccinated passengers to board will be fined P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for second offense, and P15,000 for third offense, plus a possible suspension or cancellation of the vehicle’s franchise.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said policemen will do random inspection of public transport vehicles.
Año said unvaccinated passengers who will be caught riding public transportation will be sent home and will only be arrested if they resist authorities.
“We’re reiterating our appeal to the public. If you are unvaccinated (against COVID-19), stay at home. Do not allow the virus to affect you or infect you,” PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said.
“During checkpoints or during random checking, policemen will check vaccination cards. If your travel is essential, that’s allowed. But if you are just going to the mall, go on a stroll, that’s not allowed. It’s safe for you if you will stay home so that you are not going to be infected,” said Carlos.
“Those bearing fake (vaccination cards), you will be charged. You will not only be sent home, you will be charged for violating the law for using a falsified document,” Carlos also said.
Año said the standing policy of the DILG and the PNP is to send home the unvaccinated commuters who will be caught riding public transportation.
“Our policy is to send them home because they should be restricted inside their home. If they resist (to go home), then that’s the time we can arrest them for disobeying or resisting the person in authority, we can apply Section 151 of the Revised Penal Code here,” said Año.
Año said the driver and the operator of the vehicle found to have allowed unvaccinated commuters will be held accountable, either by paying fine or revocation of their franchise.
On proposals to bring the unvaccinated commuters caught riding public transportation to vaccination centers and have them vaccinated, Año said: “We want that, we want them to agree to be vaccinated.”
Año said he believes many unvaccinated, especially the workers, actually want to be vaccinated.
“They just don’t want their work to be disturbed. If they are (caught) and brought to the vaccination sites, why wouldn’t they agree (to be vaccinated),” the DILG chief also said.
OUTSIDE OF METRO
On the possibility of expanding the coverage of the DOTr policy to areas outside NCR, Año said he is in favor pf implementing the same measure in areas that are under Alert Level 3 like NCR.
“We need this in areas under Alert Level 3. If you say Alert Level 3, there is ongoing surge, meaning their classification is high-risk, there are many positive cases and the increase of cases is continuing,” he said.
Quirino Governor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines president Dakila Cua said many local government units want to adopt the DOTr policy in their respective areas.
“Many local government units have started discussing the possibility of passing ordinance or coming up with executive orders about this, no vaccination, no ride policy,” said Cua.
Cua said some LGUs are thinking of introducing modifications to the policy, including allowing children, accompanied by their parents, to ride public transportation if their purpose is to get vaccinated or get medical attention.
Cua said he supports moves to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals to lessen the number of COVID-19 infections.
Meanwhile, DILG undersecretary for barangay affairs Martin Diño urged barangay captains who are yet to be vaccinated to either resign or take a leave of absence.
“If you are not vaccinated, you can either resign or take a leave until the COVID-19 problem is not over. You are a disgrace. You are the one implementing the law and yet you are not vaccinated,” said Diño.
“Even if you are a barangay captain, you can be arrested. We will have you arrested if there is an ordinance. There are no exemptions here,” he added.
PROTECTION
National Task Force against coronavirus disease (NTF COVID-19) adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa reiterated the DOTr policy, plus the “no vaccination, no labas” policy of Metro Manila mayors, is intended to protect the unvaccinated against the pandemic, not curtail their rights and freedom.
Herbosa, in an interview with radio DzBB, acknowledged the opposition of some people about the limitations imposed against the unvaccinated but reiterated that unless a person is allergic to the vaccines or has some ailments, there is no reason not to be vaccinated since these are free and there are already enough supplies of vaccines.
Several sectors, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), have opposed the new public commuting policy, saying it restricts a person’s exercise and enjoyment of their fundamental rights, is anti-poor and a discrimination against those who do not want to be inoculated.
As of January 15, 108.624 million vaccines have been administered nationwide. Of which, 58.765 million are first dose, 55.093 million fully vaccinated, and 4.765 million for booster. — With Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
