Gov’t allows backriding for couples

Posted at Jul 09 2020 08:57 AM | Updated as of Jul 09 2020 11:13 AM

MANILA (UPDATED) – Couples may now travel on the same motorcycle beginning Friday as government allowed backriding so long as a protective shield in between the rider and the passenger is mounted. 

“Simula bukas, papayagan na natin ‘yung backriding para sa mga couple at ‘yung prototype model na isinubmit ni Gov. Art Yap ay approved na ‘yan ng NTF (National Task Force),” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said in an interview on ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

In a separate interview, Año said backriding for couples will be implemented nationwide in areas under modified general community quarantine and general community quarantine. 

Año said while Yap’s prototype has been approved, the task force is still accepting submissions for other designs and proposals. 
 
“Meron naman tayong TWG (Technical Working Group) na sumusuri d’yan at kaagad-agad namang kung ito naman ay safe para sa travel at talagang may barrier in between the rider and the passenger para hindi magkaraoon ng hawaan ng COVID ay ia-approve din naman kaagad ‘yan,” he said. 

The protective shield should cover past the head. It also has handles attached to its poles, said Año. Both passenger and the rider should still wear face masks and helmets. 

“Maganda ito sapagkat talagang protektado ‘yung passenger pero s’yempre kailangan dito ang pag-iingat sa pagda-drive. Dapat susunod talaga tayo sa speed limit at saka kakaibang panahon ito, nabago natin configuration ng motorsiklo dapat dobleng pag-iingat sa pagda-drive,” he said. 

Motorcycle backriding is only allowed for couples, regardless of whether they are married or living together, he said. 

“Living in the same household, whether they are married, or they are common-law husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend but they are living in the same household,” he said. 

During random checks, couples may show their IDs as proof that they bear the same surname or address. He said there are so many ways to prove that couples live in the same household. 

“Meron naman tayong National IATF guidlines. Pag ‘di sila sumunod dyan violation ng EO 112 at marami pang kaukulang kaso pwedeng i-apply dyan,” he said. 

SOURCE: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/20/govt-allows-backriding-for-couples