Back-riding on motorcycles may soon be allowed once again, as soon as the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) releases the safety guidelines to comply with safety and social distancing measures.
According to IATF Resolution number 47 issued on June 19, relevant government agencies were directed to come up with parameters to ensure that COVID-19 minimum health standards are enforced on back-riders and drivers of motorcycles used as public transportation.
“The Department of Transportation (DOTr), together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Philippine Standards are hereby directed to convene and determine the safest and most effective manner to reduce the rate of transmission in back riding in motorcycles. For this purpose, this mode of transportation is hereinafter allowed in principle, upon the approval of the requirements to be set by this Technical Working Group (TWG),” the resolution said on its Section D.
“So, malapit na po ang back riding, pero kinakailangan ang NTF po ang mag-issue ng mga guidelines. Pinapayagan na in principle ang back riding upon the approval of the requirements na isi-set ng Technical Working Group. Antay-antay na lang po muna at baka puwede nang mapayagan ang back riding,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr said.
Since the country was placed under various levels of community quarantine, backriding on motorcycles was immediately prohibited by the National Task Force Against COVID-19. The latest IATF resolution would pave the way for the possible resumption of motorcycle operations as a mode of public transportation in the country.
Last Friday, motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas proposed to use a protective shield that acts as a barrier between rider and passenger. The plastic divider will be disinfected every ride and will be a fixture of every Angkas rider once back-riding is allowed.