Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla has appealed to the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease to allow backriding on motorcycles for couples or those who are living together amid the implementation of the general community quarantine in the province.
In an open letter posted on his Facebook page, Remulla urged the IATF to exempt couples from the policy that prohibits backriding amid the pandemic.
“Ang nais ko po sanang idulog ay mapayagan ang backriding sa kaso ng mga mag-asawa at nagsasama,“ he said.
The governor explained that couples should be allowed to ride together since they share almost everything at home.
“Sila po ay natutulog sa iisang kama. Kumakain sa iisang mesa. Naghahati sa iisang mangkok ng kanin at nagpapasa ng ulam nang naka-kamay,” Remulla said.
“Tama lamang din po sigurong payagan ang mag-asawa at mga nagsasama na sumakay sa iisang motorsiklo. Kung hinahayaan po natin silang sumakay sa de-aircon na kotse, bakit po hindi sila maaring sumakay sa isang motorsiklo? Kung pareho sila ng kamang tinutulugan, bakit hindi sila puwedeng bumiyaheng magkasama, sa loob man ito ng isang Toyota Vios o sakay ng isang Yamaha Mio?” Remulla added.
He said that the local government may issue passes that couples could present at checkpoints.
“Ang lokal na pamahalaan ay maari pong magbigay ng “couple pass” para sa mga mag-asawa at maari nila itong patotohanan sa mga checkpoint gamit ang marriage contract,” he said.
Remulla explained that motorcycles are the primary mode of transport in Cavite, saying that there are roughly 400,000 motorcycles that regularly ply the roads in the province.
The Department of Transportation prohibited backriding on motorcycles in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
