BY CHITO CHAVEZ
If you are against the mounting of barriers or shields in your vehicles then avoid backriding.
That’s the warning of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on motorcycle drivers, saying they will strictly enforce the directive starting July 31.
Since only couples or live-in partners are allowed as motorcycle back riders, around 10,000 individuals were nabbed for violating the protocols on pillion-riding on motorcycles from July 10 to July 20.
Año said that those violators are mostly riding enthusiasts with friends or neighbors as back rides.
In some cases, Año noted that some errant motorcycle drivers charge fees to ferry passengers.
He stressed that the (IATF)-approved shield should be mounted on the motorcycles with both riders wearing face masks and helmets as part of the government’s health precautions.
Año said there are two government approved prototypes for the barrier, a shield attached to the motorcycle designed by the Bohol provincial government and a second backpack-like design by ride-hailing platform Angkas. (Chito Chavez)
