Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that motorcycle backriding for couples will be allowed starting Friday, July 10.
During an interview over DZMM TeleRadyo on Thursday morning, Año said that backriding will only be allowed for couples beginning tomorrow.
“Simula bukas papayagan na natin yung backriding para sa mga couples,” Año said.
“For couples lang muna at alam mo naman yung ating situation ngayon ano… tumataas ang numero. So at least, yung couple iisang bahay lang yan,” he added.
Año stressed that motorcycle backriding will only be allowed for couples who are living in the same household.
“Couple 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.
Año explained that couples should have the same last name or address in their IDs in order to prove that they are living in the same household.
“Well, sa ID naman sigurado magkapareho ng apelyido kung halimbawa naman ay hindi magkapareho ng apelyido… common law husband and wife eh meron naman silang same address sa ID nila. There are so many ways naman para mapatunayan na they are living in the same household,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Año said that the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 has approved the protective shield design that Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap submitted.
“Yung prototype model na isinubmit ni Gov. Arthur Yap ay approved na yan ng NTF at ito yung pinaka prototype na gagamitin natin,” he said.
Yap earlier provided a recommendation on the design of the shields which will separate the motorcycle driver and his passenger. By using shields, physical contact between the driver and his rider will be lessened.
“Meron siyang barrier between the rider and the passenger tapos mayroon din siyang handle sa side ng barrier at lalagpas hanggang ulo yung barrier para sigurado na walang laway na tatalsik,” Año explained.
The Department of Transportation prohibited backriding on motorcycles in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March.
Since Metro Manila and other areas transitioned to a more lenient general community quarantine, thousands of commuters who are mostly returning to their workplaces continue to endure the effect of limited mass transportation due to the ongoing threat of the COVID-19.