QUEZON CITY (PIA) – As the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Sunday placed the seven provinces and National Capital Region (NCR) back under Alert Level 2, the government is expected to ease some restrictions where the “no vaccination, no ride” policy is expected to be lifted.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the public will not be required to present proof of their vaccination status in order to ride the public transportation beginning on Tuesday, February 1.

“Once we de-escalate to Alert Level 2, the no vaxx, no ride policy shall automatically be lifted,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran told the reporters.

Other areas placed under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15 are Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan.

Under Alert Level 2, the buses, trains, jeeps can now serve up to 70% of their passenger capacities.

To recall, the government implemented the policy in early January to prevent the public transportation shut down and to stop the growth of new COVID-19 infections.

Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, said that the monitoring will continue since commuters and workforce will increase.

Año also expressed the the de-escalation of different areas from Alert Level 3 to the Alert Level 2 is a sign that the public is following the guidelines and observing health protocols set by the authorities to contain the COVID-19 surge.

“Ang pinaka-importante kasi dyan 'yung cooperation ng lahat. Nakita naman natin nung nag-Alert Level 3, hindi na tayo nag-Level 4. Sila na 'yung nag-stop papunta ng mall, sila na mismo ‘yung tumigil sa mga ibang activities,” he said.

The alert level takes effect until Feb. 15 unless extended or lifted by the government. (JAFD/PIA-IDPD)