Cavite governor to suggest permitting backriding to IATF

Cavite governor, Jonvic Remulla, will suggest to the IATF to allow backriding on motorcycles

Cavite governor, Jonvic Remulla, will suggest to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to allow backriding on motorcycles, as long as the rider and pillion live in the same household.

“Napansin ko na pag magbukas ang ekonomiya, ang service ng karamihan ay singol (motor) na ankas ang kanilang minamahal (I have noticed that, once the economy [work] reopens, the primary mode of transportation for many is a single motorcycle with their loved ones as pillion).

The governor explained that, once social distancing is made the “new normal” on all public utility vehicles (PUVs), many workers may find it really difficult to commute due to the reduced capacity of these PUVs. To ease commuters' worries, he suggests allowing pillion riding as a possible solution.

^{From left: Department of Transportation secretary, Arthur Tugade, and Cavite governor, Jonvic Remulla.}

“Kung may social distancing sa PUJ, PUB, at tricycle, ay mahihirapan ang napakarami. Para maka gaan, imumunkahi ko sa IATF na payagan ang ankas kung ang nakasakay ay nakatira sa isang tahanan (With social distancing implemented on [public] jeepneys, buses and tricycles, a lot will suffer. To help ease their burden, I will suggest to the IATF to allow pillion riding on motorcycles as long as they're from the same household).

During the early days of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Interior and Local Government secretary, Eduardo Año, prohibited ferrying passengers on tricycles, as it would contradict with social distancing protocols. Rather than have the Armed Forces of the Philippines (military) and the PNP (police) inspect each one, he'd rather have them focus their efforts on enforcing the ECQ as a whole.

“I don't want the PNP and the AFP to check 100,000 tricycles every moment just to check who's riding. I'd rather have them focus their efforts on keeping people staying at home,” said secretary Año. Though the secretary did not specifically mention motorcycles, the IATF-EID, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that due to limited space for social distancing, motorcycles are for one passenger only.

“Hindi po pinagbabawalang gumamit ng motorsiklo ang mga frontliners o nasa essential travel. Ang ipinagbabawal po ay ang paggamit ng motorsiklo ng may angkas dahil labag po ito sa social distancing guidelines na ipinatutupad ng gobyerno (Motorcycle travel for frontliners, or those for essential travel are not prohibited. What's prohibited is the use of motorcycle with pillion or backride, because this goes against the social distancing guidelines being implemented by the government),” said the DOTr.

Governor Remulla, however, clarified that he's not promising it will be permitted. He merely commits to suggesting to the IATF to lifting the prohibition of backriding. “Hinde ko pwedeng ipangako muna pero kakausapin ko ang kinauukulan. Inuulit ko, dehins muna umangal. Dehins muna ang mga nega (I am not promising anything but I'll talk to the authorities. I repeat, do not whine. Don't be negative). Allow us to work and arrive at an equitable solution."