By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) has apprehended 70 persons from Aug 1 to 3, 2020 for failure to install motorcycle barriers between the drivers and riders to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Police Lieutenant Colonel Luisito Acebuche, BTAO head, said 28 persons were arrested on Aug 1, first day of the nationwide implementation of the motorcycle barrier, followed by another 20 violators on the next day, and 22 more violators on the third day.
Acebuche said BTAO has deployed 620 traffic enforcers to major streets and barangays to catch violators of the new directive from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the national Inter-agency Task Force (IATF).
The City Council earlier approved a resolution asking the DILG and the national IATF to reconsider the requirement of requiring the motorist to install a barrier in a motorcycle before allowing an “Angkas” or back rider for reasons of safety and impracticality.
The DILG issued an advisory advising all local government units that back-riding on motorcycles shall be allowed in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the IATF-MEID.
The guidelines to be observed are:
-couples living in the same house are exempted provided they present valid identification cards as proof that the said persons are living together or are married to one another, or have relation to one another or common law marriage, boyfriend and girlfriend, etc.;
-safety barriers/shield whose design is duly approved by the IATF national must be placed between the driver and the passenger;
-persons riding motorcycles shall observe minimum public health standards set forth by the Department of Health, such as the wearing of face masks and other relevant personal protective equipment; and
-riders shall also observe all road-safety measures during their ride, such as the donning appropriate motorcycle safety headwear or cash helmets.
Acebuche said the implementation of the directive has been postponed several times, due to the complaints of some motorists.
But he said they will continue to conduct their operations against violators because that is the law. “Wala ta mahimo because we’re following the instructions and we will strictly enforce the law,” he said.
He said there were some motorcycle riders who opted to just travel alone to avoid the hassle of installing a barrier.
Violators will have to pay a fine of P500 to P1,500 and will face revocation of their driver’s license if they commit the offense several times, based on the sanctions for social distancing measures, he said.
Under City Ordinance No. 926 also known as the “Face Mask and Social Distancing Ordinance of Bacolod City” authored by Councilor Archie Baribar, any person in Bacolod caught violating health protocols, such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing, will be fined P200 or an equivalent of eight hours of community service for every violation. Meanwhile, non-residents of Bacolod will be fined P300.
