Only those driving solo allowed to have no mask inside vehicle

MANILA — Occupants of a vehicle are required to wear anti-virus masks even if they are from the same household, the transportation and health departments said Friday.

A driver can only do away with face masks if traveling alone. If a driver has passengers, they are all required to wear masks, the 2 agencies said in a joint statement.

"Papaano mo mamo-monitor iyong 2 o 3 na kasama mo sa oto, na kasama sa bahay? Kaya nagi-generic numerical requirement ka na lang," Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade told reporters.

(How can you monitor the 2, 3 people who are in the car with you, if they are really from the same household. This is why we just have a generic numerical requirement.)

The transportation department has yet to coordinate with its road sector arm for the implementation of the policy, said agency spokesperson Goddess Libiran.

“Pag-uusapan pa kung paano properly mai-implement iyong agreement and ano 'yong mga fines and penalties na ii-impose sa violators,” she said in a text message.

(We will still discuss how the agreement will be implemented and what are the fines and penalties for violations.)

Earlier this week, Land Transportation Office chief Ed Galvante said there would be no apprehension for those who fail to wear face masks inside vehicles. If a motorist is flagged down, he or she would only be reminded to wear their face masks properly, he said.

- Report from Jacque Manabat, ABS-CBN News