Senator Grace Poe, on Tuesday, asked the government to allow back-riding of relatives in motorcycles to lessen the burden of commuters amid the lack of public transport.
“Ang pag-angkas sa motorsiklo ay sariling paraan ng ating mga kababayan para makarating sa trabaho at makapaghanapbuhay para sa kanilang pamilya. Malaking kabawasan na ito sa mga stranded na pasahero na araw-araw ay hirap makasakay,” said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.
(Backriding of kin is one way to get to their places of work and earn for their families. This would be a great relief to our stranded passengers who had to suffer in their commute every day.)
The Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases said it is finalizing the guidelines for back-riding in motorcycles. However, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the protocols would cover private bikes and not motorcycle-hailing services.
Poe said that it would be “safer for a spouse to ride with her partner than to walk, take a tricycle or other public transportation, which could expose her to infection.”
She said the pillion riders could just present a copy of the IDs and other relevant documents as proof of kinship when apprehended by traffic enforcers.
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Poe also said riders should strictly follow the health and safety protocols to avoid the spread of the coronavirus as well as existing rules such as wearing of helmets.
“Nakakapanlumo na makita ang magkapamilya na sa pagpasok sa trabaho, ‘yung isa ay nasa motorsiklo at ‘yong isa ay naglalakad dahil bawal ang angkas,” Poe said.
(It’s devastating to see relatives that when they go to work, one rides the motorcycle, while the other walks just because back-riding is prohibited.)
“Malasakit ang panawagan ng ating mga manggagawang naglalakad nang kilo-kilometro bago makasakay. Ubos na ang lakas nila bago pa man makarating sa pinagtatrabahuhan o opisina,” she appealed.
(Our workers have been appealing for compassion as they walk for kilometers before getting to their workplaces. They were already tired even before they arrive at work.)
In February, the Senator sponsored Senate Bill No. 1341 or the “Motorcycles-for-Hire Act,” which aims to legalize and regulate motorcycle taxis such as Angkas.