DoTr eyeing transport terminals as vaccination sites
THE TRANSPORTATION department on Wednesday said that it is considering using integrated transport terminals, train stations and expressways as vaccination sites.
“We are already exploring that possibility… We are mostly looking at the integrated terminals for the road transport. We are also looking at the other stations for the rail transport,” Transportation Undersecretary Artemio U. Tuazon, Jr. told ANC’s Headstart.
He said Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade had also instructed the Toll Regulatory Board to “see if we can have vaccination sites along the expressways.”
“They are now studying it whether we can implement it.”
The department started enforcing on Monday a “no vaccination, no ride/no entry” policy across all forms of public transport in the National Capital Region (NCR).
On Jan. 11, Mr. Tugade issued Department Order No. 2022-001, limiting public transportation access to vaccinated individuals in the NCR while under Alert Level 3 or higher.
The policy applies to all domestic travel to, from, and within the NCR via public transportation by land, sea, and air, according to the order. It also covers public transportation for individuals who reside outside the NCR “but work and/or travel to the same.”
The department clarified on Tuesday that workers are exempted from the policy.
“An employee of an industry allowed to operate under Alert Level 3 can still board public transport, even if unvaccinated, provided that he/she can present proof that he/she is going to work,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran said in a statement. — Arjay L. Balinbin
