Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed that the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 has approved the prototype for the protective barrier that will be placed on motorcycles in a bid to prevent the spread of the dreaded virus.
“Effective immediately the [above] barriers between motorcycle driver and passengers are hereby approved,” Año said.
However, he clarified that as of the moment, backding for motorcycles is only allowed for couples who are living in the same household.
“Meantime backriding will be strictly for husbands and wives, common law couple and live-in partners,” Año said.
Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap earlier submitted 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.
Año stressed that couples who ride together on motorcycles should follow health and safety protocols prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases such as the installation of protective barriers on motorcycles.
“Only couples are allowed. Pwede hulihin husband and wife kapag walang barrier. May grace period pa para makagawa sila ng barriers. The Joint Task Force Covid Shield Shield will recommend the grace period,” Año said.
Año earlier 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. – Mer Layson