BY VICTOR REYES and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
LEGITIMATE couples nationwide can return to motorcycle back-riding after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) agreed, subject to strict health protocols, to allow the practice to resume starting today, Friday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who is the task force’s vice chairman, said Defense Secretary and concurrent National Task Force against COVID-19 chairman Delfin Lorenzana authorized the back-riding in motorycles among couples.
Back-riding in motorcycle was banned by the government in March as part of its measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Año said the IATF has yet to discuss proposals to also allow motorcycle back-riding among family members and relatives.
“Magsisimula muna tayo sa couple, ito ‘yung mga husband and wife, common-law husband and wife o ‘yung married couple, boyfriend and girlfriend as long as they are living in the same household (We’ll start with couples, husband and wife, common law husband and wife, or married couples, boyfriend and girlfriend as long as they are living in the same household),” said Año.
“Saka sa couple madali kasing ma-verify, dun lang muna tayo kasi mahirap na e, tumatass pa ‘yung numero natin (Couples can be easily verified. We’ll start from there because it’s still not safe because the numbers are still rising),” he said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that while back-riding is now allowed, motorcycle-hailing Angkas is still not allowed.
“Itong back riding po ay para lamang sa mga mag-asawa, para lang sa mga pribado, hindi po kasama diyan ang Angkas (Back riding is only allowed for husbands and wives, for private riders, and does not include Angkas),” Roque said.
Asked if parents and child or siblings can go back-riding, Roque said this has yet to be discussed by the task force. He said the couple back-riding issue was prioritized due to the clamor for couples to be allowed to do so.
Roque said couples would have to present an identification card or a photocopy of their marriage contract to authorities when they are flagged down by law enforcers.
Año said an identification card proving that the back-rider and driver are a couple or are living in the same house will be enough proof.
He said law enforcers will be conducting random checks only for potential violators because it is impossible to check all motorcycles with two persons onboard.
“Kung ma-tyempuhan ka dahil hindi totoo ‘yung ginawa mo, pananagutan mo ‘yun (If you are caught violating, you are going to be held accountable for it),” the DILG secretary added.
Año said violators will be charged for violation of IATF guidelines and other laws related to the country’s fight against the highly infectious COVID-19.
Año said the motorcycle driver and the passenger will have to be separated by a barrier or a shield, and should wear face masks and helmets all the time.
He said there is a need to install the barrier/shield between the driver and the passenger as a “safety net” against people who may violate the rule.
“Meron siyang barrier between the rider at saka passenger. Pagkatapos ay meron din siyang handle sa side nung barrier at lalampas hanggang ulo niya ‘yung barrier para sigurado na walang laway na tatalsik. (There will be a barrier between the rider and the passenger. The barrier will have handles on the side and it should be above the head to ensure that no body liquids will spatter),” he said.
Año urged drivers to be extra careful when driving with a back-rider in light of the modifications made on their motorcycles.
“Siyempre binago natin ‘yung configuration ng motorsiklo kaya dapat ay dobleng pag-iingat sa pagda-drive. Kung nagkakaroon ng disgrasya nung wala pang barrier, dapat mas lalo doble ingat ngayon (Since we changed the configuration of the motorcycles, we have to be doubly careful when driving. There were accidents before these barriers, so we have to be doubly careful now),” said Año.
