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Shipowners are supportive of the “no vaccination, no ride” policy of the Department of Transportation
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The Maritime Industry Authority started implementing the rule on January 17
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The policy affects passenger ships entering and departing the National Capital Region
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MARINA directed all shipping companies/operators to allow only fully vaccinated persons access to maritime transport or acquire tickets
Shipowners threw their support to the “no vaccination, no ride” policy as the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on January 17 began enforcing the ruling on passenger ships entering and departing National Capital Region (NCR).
Under MARINA Advisory No. 2022-03, all shipping companies/operators were directed to allow access or issue tickets only to fully vaccinated persons.
Full vaccination should be evidenced by physical or digital copies of a local government unit-issued vaccine card, a Department of Health-issued vaccine certification, or any Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases-prescribed document.
According to MARINA, the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association noted the rule will encourage more people to get vaccinated.
The MARINA policy is in compliance with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Department Order (DO) No. 2022-001, which limits public transportation access in NCR to vaccinated individuals while the region is under Alert Level 3 status or higher.
Issued on January 11, DOTr DO 2022-001 restricts the movement of unvaccinated individuals in Metro Manila following an uptick in COVID-19 cases with the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant.
DOTr DO 2022-001 applies to all domestic travel to, from, and within NCR via public transportation by land, air, and sea while the area is placed under Alert Level 3 status or higher.
Under DO 2022-001, a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series of vaccines; or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
The policy will not apply to the following:
• Persons with medical conditions that prevent full COVID-19 vaccination, as evidenced by a duly signed medical certificate with name and contact details of the physician.
• Persons who will procure essential goods and services, such as but not limited to food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities, energy, work, and medical and dental necessities, as evidenced by a duly issued barangay health pass or other appropriate proof to support and justify such travel.
Other agencies under the DOTr along with airlines also started implementing DO 2022-001 on January 17.
