During a press briefing in Davao City earlier, Presidential spokesperson, Harry Roque, said that the government will require couples to present a photocopy of their marriage certificate once backriding or pillion riding is allowed starting tomorrow, July 10, 2020.
For the announcement, jump to 25:52
“Siguro po, ay identification card. Siguro po, xerox lang ng kanilang marriage contract. Xerox, hindi naman po kinakailangan yung original ano po (They should bring an identification card; maybe, a photocopy of their marriage contract (to prove they're married). A photocopy should suffice, no need for the original.),” said Roque.
Also earlier today, during an interview with DZMM TeleRadyo, the secretary of the Department of Interior an Local Government (DILG), Eduardo Año, has announced that backriding for couples living in the same household will finally be allowed. Among the requirements of the special Technical Working Group (TWG) is the backrider shield devised by Bohol governor, Art Yap.
Only for married couples
The Presidential Spokesperson has clarified that backriding will only be allowed for married couples.
“Uulitin ko po, ang approved-in-principle ay ang mag-asawa, at dapat meron ginagamit na shield gaya nung dinesenyo po ni Gov. Arthur Yap ng Bohol. Yung mga approval po nya sa IATF...yung approved-in-principle...limitado pa rin po sya sa mga mag-asawa. (I will say it again, those approved-in-principle are only those who are married, and they should use a shield similar to the design of Bohol’s Gov. Arthur Yap. The IATF’s approval…the approved-in-principle…will only be limited to married couples).”
Roque added that, it was upon the recommendation of the DILG and the National Task Force COVID-19 that only married couples will be allowed to ride pillion. “Pero sa ngayon po talaga, naparating sa akin ni Sec. Ano [DILG] at ni Sec. Galvez [National Task Force COVID-19], limitado po sa mga mag-asawa.”
