With the implementation of the no vaccine no ride policy, some passengers may resort to illegal modes of transportation, according to a group of attackers.
Colorums operate without government permission, which is why they are not obligated to comply with health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Baka pumunta sila doon sa colorum sapagkat itong mga colorum hindi po nagre-require o nag-e-exercise ng IATF protocols,” according to Ric Rivera, spokesperson of the Pilipino Society and Development Advocates Commuter-Consumer (PASADA CC), in an interview with GMA News this Thursday.
According to the group, as many as 12,000 colorum vehicles roamed the roads, areas where COVID-19 infection could occur despite the Department of Transportation’s “no vaccine, no ride” policy.
Despite this, the group allegedly accepted the said policy, issued through Department Order No. 2022-001 this 11th of January for the National Capital Region as long as it is at Alert Level 3 and above.
Several private SUVs and carpooling services have been caught on the road while crackdowns on colorum vehicles are conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those mentioned above were fined up to P20,000.
Colorum vehicles to benefit from no vaccine, no ride policy
Despite PASADA CC’s support for “no vaccine, no ride” against COVID-19, their group is calling for the removal of the limit on the number of people who can ride in public utility vehicles to help the economy.
It will be recalled that it is limited to 70% to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
“Mas mabuti na talagang enganyuhin ang PUVs natin. Huwag nating limitahan,” explained Rivera.
“Sapagkat sila naman po ay may special permit o may prangkisa. Mas makatutulong po sa atin ‘yan.”
Instead of imposing restrictions, he said it would be better for the government to intensify its efforts to vaccinate everyone against COVID-19 than to implement passenger caps.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Philippines jumped to 34,021 on Thursday, breaking the all-time high record in new cases in the country’s history.
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