Gov’t now allows backriding for couples

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) now allows backriding for couples beginning Friday, July 10, provided that there would be a protective shield in between the couple.

“Simula bukas, papayagan na natin ‘yung backriding para sa mga couple at ‘yung prototype model na isinubmit ni Gov. Art Yap ay approved na ‘yan ng NTF (National Task Force),” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said in an interview on ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

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(Starting tomorrow, we will allow motorcycle backriding for couples, and the prototype model that was submitted by Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap, was approved by the NTF, and this is the prototype that we will be using.)

Año clarified that the task force is still accepting other design proposals for motorcycle backriding.

“Meron naman tayong TWG (Technical Working Group) na sumusuri d’yan at kaagad-agad namang kung ito naman ay safe para sa travel at talagang may barrier in between the rider and the passenger para hindi magkaraoon ng hawaan ng COVID ay ia-approve din naman kaagad ‘yan,” he said.

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(We have a TWG that evaluates. If it is safe for travel, has a barrier between the rider and passenger to make sure COVID would not be transmitted, the TWG would readily approve them.)

Also read: Poe calls on gov’t to allow back-riding

IATF now allows backriding for couples

Yap’s prototype model has dividers and handles between the riders and passengers to contain the spread of the virus, Año said.

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“May barrier between rider and passenger pagkatapos may handle sa side nung barrier at the same time kailangan mag wear ng mask at nakahelmet yung rider at passenger,” he said.

(There is a barrier between rider and passenger, then there is a handle on the side of the barrier at the same time they need to wear a mask and helmet.)

“Maganda ito sapagkat talagang protektado ‘yung passenger pero s’yempre kailangan dito ang pag-iingat sa pagda-drive. Dapat susunod talaga tayo sa speed limit at saka kakaibang panahon ito, nabago natin configuration ng motorsiklo dapat dobleng pag-iingat sa pagda-drive,” he said.

(This is good because the passenger is really protected, but they still need to be careful while driving. We should follow the speed limit, and this is a different time, we changed the configuration of the motorcycle so they should be more careful.)

The DILG chief said couples are either married individuals or non-married couples with the same address. They could present identification cards (IDs) as proof.