The suspended “no vaccine, no ride” policy in public transportation will be reimposed in the National Capital Region (NCR) only if it will remain under Alert Level 3 or higher, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.

In a Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, DOTr Undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. said the policy has only been suspended for 30 days or until Feb. 25.

“Kapag nag-Alert Level 2 tayo, masususpindi na po itong effectivity nitong ‘no vax, no ride’ policy po natin (If we’re at Alert Level 2, the effectivity of the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy will be suspended),” Tuazon said.

To date, he said the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has yet to decide whether to retain, ease, or escalate the current Covid-19 restrictions in NCR.

“May IATF meeting nga po today at sa tingin ko po ay pag-uusapan iyan at ang IATF ang magsasabi kung ito po ay bababa o hindi (There’s an IATF meeting today and I think that will be discussed and they’ll decide whether to downgrade or not),” Tuazon said.

With the possibility of the vaccine policy returning, he encouraged the public to get themselves vaccinated during the 30-day suspension.

“Itong 30-days na window na binibigay natin ay para lang ho makumpleto na nila o makapagpabakuna na iyong ating mga mamamayan na hindi pa po nakakapagpabakuna (This 30-day window was given so they may complete or begin their vaccination),” Tuazon said.

He noted that exemptions to the policy will remain such as for those with proof of their medical exemption, those working in essential industries, and those approved to acquire necessary goods and services by their barangay.

“Pagkatapos po nitong 30 days na ito ay we will strictly implement the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy na po. But I have to repeat, mayroon po tayong exemptions dito (After these 30 days we will strictly implement the ‘no vax, no ride’ policy. But I have to repeat, we have exemptions),” Tuazon said.

Earlier, he said the policy may also be implemented outside NCR if a local government unit issues an ordinance to bar the unvaccinated from public transportation. (PNA)