By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Panay Alliance of Riding Enthusiasts (PARE) on Saturday expressed skepticism over the national government’s decision late last week to allow back-riding on motorcycles amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in June announced that the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases had resolved to allow motorcycle back-riding, after appeals from local officials, including Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.
Despite the lack of guidelines from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año announced on July 9, 2020 that back-riding would be allowed starting July 10.
Año said this would be limited to married couples and those who live under one household and can show proof, like a copy of the marriage contract.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, PARE spokesperson Carlo Shane Eyao said that there was no consultation with motorcycle riders.
“We see this as a move that wasn’t carefully planned. Although we understand that we are in a time of a pandemic which we haven’t been through before, but they should’ve sought consultation from riders before they decided on this. If we look at it, the ones who crafted this policy aren’t riders who don’t understand what they’re implementing,” Eyao said.
Eyao cited one of the stringent parts of the new policy, which was the use of a plastic divider between riders, saying that it is “unnecessary” and “dangerous”.
The proposed design of the divider was attributed to Bohol Governor Arthur Yap, although Defensor also sent a similar design in early June.
“First, about the divider, although we understand that the purpose is the safety so they would not catch COVID-19. But who they allow, married or live-in couples, don’t use dividers at home. They sleep together. Why would you need dividers for that? Second, there is a danger that the divider might fly with the wind, and the back-rider may fly along with them. Third, the divider would be attached to the tank. Not all motorcycles have their tanks in the front, there are ones with the tank in the back especially scooters, which are located at the seats. It means that if the riders gas up, they would have to dismantle and re-install the dividers every time,” he said.
He said that close-faced helmets are already sufficient as face covering.
“Our recommendation in the riding community is that barriers are not needed. Riders have helmets which have visors. What we recommend are close-faced helmets with working visors. If you have a helmet, it would cover until the bottom of your mouth. If you close the visor, then you already have a face shield. It would be protection against both COVID-19 and other accidents,” Eyao said.
