FILE PHOTO/Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila public rail system banned more than 1,700 commuter train commuters from getting onto the trains after they failed to show proof of vaccination on the first day of the “no vaccination, no ride” policy on Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Tuesday.
DOTr Undersecretary for Railways TJ Batan said that a total of 1,749 commuters tried to board MRT, LRT-1 and 2, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) without showing proof of their vaccination.
Of the total number of violators, most were recorded at MRT-3 stations with 1,204; LRT-1 stations, 401; LRT-2 stations, 136; and eight other violators in PNR stations.
“Hindi na po sila pinapapasok sa station kung walang maipakitang vax card or any proof showing that they belong to those under exceptions,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message.
(They were barred from entry when they could not show vax cards or any proof showing that they belong to those under exceptions.)
According to Assistant Secretary for Roads and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor, the violators were merely warned rather than being apprehended for non-compliance.
Transport Secretary Art Tugade, for his part, said that the public was generally compliant with the new policy despite the reported violations.
“According to reports from our men on the ground, most of the passengers were prepared for the policy. They voluntarily handed over their vaccination cards to our enforcers for thorough inspection and verification before boarding public utility vehicles (PUVs),” Tugade said in a statement.
The “no vaccination, no ride” policy will last until Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3.
Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 until January 31.
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