No more ‘no vax, no ride/entry’ policy in NCR
By Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo
THE “no vaccination, no ride/entry” policy issued by the Department of Transportation in all public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been lifted, acting presidential spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Monday, January 31, 2022.
Nograles said the lifting came after Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15, 2022.
“Kanilang otomatikong ililift o sinususpinde ang (They automatically lift or suspend the) ‘no vaccination, no ride/entry’ policy sa National Capital Region,” he said in a televised press briefing.
“Dahil kung inyong matatandaan ang polisiyng ito ay ipatutupad lamang habang ang Metro Manila ay nasa Alert Level 3 o mas mataas pa (Because the policy only has to be implemented while Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 or higher),” he added.
The policy was implemented following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to limit the mobility of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals amid the increase of Covid-19 cases in the country due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
Nograles said among the factors considered for the de-escalation of quarantine status in Metro Manila were its two-week growth rate, average daily attack rate (Adar) and the total bed utilization.
“Pagdating sa NCR, ‘yung ating total bed utilization ay nasa below 49 percent. Ganun din sa Bulacan, sa Rizal, sa Cavite, sa Biliran, Southern Leyte, at sa Basilan. Kung titignan niyo po yung Adar at two-week growth rate ng nabanggit ko ng areas, nasa moderate risk po sila. Dahil po doon, pwede sila made-escalate sa Alert Level 2,” he added.
(The total bed utilization rate in NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Biliran, Southern Leyte and Basilan was below 49 percent. If you look at the Adar and two-week growth rate of these areas, they are under moderate risk. Because of these, they can be de-escalated to Alert Level 2.)
Also under Alert Level 2 until February 15 are Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal in Luzon; Biliran and Southern Leyte in the Visayas; and Basilan in Mindanao.
But Nograles urged the public not to be complacent and continue to adhere to the minimum health protocols.
“Ngayon, binaba na natin ang alert level sa NCR at sa ilang mga piling mga lugar dahil sa pagbaba ng mga bilang ng kaso sampu ng malaking porsyento ng asymptomatic at mild cases sa mga tinatamaan. Ituloy lang po natin ang pakikipagtulungan,” he said.
(We lowered the alert level in NCR and other select areas due to the decreasing number of cases, and the higher percentage of asymptomatic and mild cases. Let us continue to cooperate.)
The Philippines has a total active Covid-19 cases of 202,864, in which 38,583 were in NCR, five were in Batanes, 9,403 in Cavite, 5,633 in Rizal, 5,163 in Bulacan, 95 in Biliran, 215 in Southern Leyte and 125 in Basilan. (SunStar Philippines)
