By Ely Rosales

PHOTO: Scooping News

Presidential aspirant Leody "Ka Leody" de Guzman and various youth movements took a swipe at the Department of Transportation's "no vaccine, no ride" policy today, January 12.

According to DOTr's order, traveling to, from, and within National Capital Region (NCR) would be exclusive to people with vaccine cards, certifications, and documents.

The order only exempts those who have medical conditions that prohibit vaccination and ones who would avail basic goods and services.

In a tweet, De Guzman claimed that DOTr's order has no legal basis, thus violating the Filipinos' inherent rights.

"Walang tinutungtungan na ligal na kautusan ang “no vax, no ride” policy ng DoTR. Bagkus, ito’y lumalabag sa mga batayang karapatan ng mamamayan," said Ka Leody.

The presidential aspirant added that although movement could be controlled, this order is only a blame game" between the Duterte administration and the public.

"Pilit nitong sinisisi ang mga hindi bakunado gayong pinalpak nito ang paghatid sa atin sa 'new normal.' Matapos ang dalawang taon at bilyong bilyong inutang, malayo pa rin tayo sa 'new normal,'" De Guzman told.

Christan youth group Student Christian Movement of the Philippines called this "no vaccine, no ride" a "discriminatory policy" against the poor and working class.

In a press release, SCMP asserted that this DOTr order denies the masses access to public transportation and livelihood which they need the most.

“The Duterte administration proves itself as anti-people again and again, with its discriminatory policies against the unvaxed. The government cannot even give enough aid and medical solutions to the poor and needy; now, they are trying to deny public transportation and livelihood especially to the masses who need it the most," remarked SCMP National Spokesperson Kej Andres.

The ecumenical group furthered that this order ramps up jeepney phaseout than the vaccinations that results in the exterminating of the livelihood of jeepney drivers.

Campus journalists from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also believed that the "no vaccine, no ride" policy would not work.

In an alert, CEGP instead suggested having "nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented responses" rather than "anti-poor and anti-people" policies such as this DOTr order.

"We could only achieve [nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented responses] if we have free mass testing, early treatment, fast vaccination, efficient contact tracing, systematic isolation, and aid issuance," the alliance of publications chimed in.

They also called on people to resist military motions, such as this order, amid a pandemic that requires medical solutions instead.

Meanwhile, dictator son, vice presidential loser, and ex-senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. saw the "no vaccine, no ride" policy as "necessary."

In a statement by his spokesman Atty. Victor Rodrigues, it attested that this DOTr order is "founded on sufficient valuable data."

"Our people need to have jobs and to work for them to bring food on their table, send children to school and provide for other essential family needs but at the same time we recognize our government's tough acts of balancing the scales and economy," read the statement.

Marcos' camp—who could not even let him participate in a Zoom meeting—also reminded that they are one with the people in rising up again.

To date, DOTr has yet to address the flak after their order.