Several governors impose ‘no vax, no entry’ amid COVID-19 surge –League of Provinces

Several governors are implementing a “no vaccination, no entry” policy in their provinces as COVID-19 cases increase in the country, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) said on Friday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, LPP President Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said some provinces are only allowing the entry of unvaccinated people if they present a negative RT-PCR test result.

“May mga numero kami ng mga gobernador na nag-impose na ng 'no vax, no entry,' yan ang policy,” he said.

(We have several member governors who imposed a ‘no vax, no entry’ policy)

“Marami nang gumagawa sa amin nyan,” he added.

(Many of our members are already doing that.)

However, he did not enumerate which provinces had imposed the policy.

Velasco asked for understanding from the areas under Alert Level 3, including the National Capital Region, as people from these areas would be barred from entering these provinces due to the threat of COVID-19.

Aside from this, Velasco added that some provinces are also implementing restrictions on unvaccinated people inside their areas. However, he said every local government has its strategy on this.

He explained that local governments have to issue their ordinances to implement these restrictions.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said local government units and the police started enforcing restrictions on unvaccinated people in areas under Alert Level 3.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered barangay officials to direct persons yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to stay at home amid the increase in COVID-19 cases.

“If he refuses, if he goes out of the house and goes around the community or wherever magpunta, he can be restrained. If he refuses, the barangay captain being a person of authority has the power to arrest," Duterte said. — DVM, GMA News