No more ‘backriders’

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has banned motorcycle owners from driving with another person riding at their back.

This is in line with the social distancing directive of the Department of Health (DOH) as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"Pinapayagan ang paggamit ng motorsiklo for personal use, sa kundisyon na wala itong angkas sinuman, alinsunod sa social distancing na ipinatutupad ng DOH (We allow motorcycles for personal use on the condition that drivers will not have any passenger at the back in line with the social distancing DOH is implementing)," DOTr said.

Victor Caindec, regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7, said the order is very clear and not even a driver’s family member is exempted from the new rule. No arrest will be made this week.

"Igo ra mi magtuman sa directive. As of now, dili pa mi manakop. Igo lang sa nato pasabton ang mga drivers sa motor nga mao nay order. But I already talked with our PNP personnel deputized by LTO nga maoy manakop next week na nato sugdan (We are just enforcing the directive. As of now, we won’t arrest anyone. We will explain the order to the drivers first. I have already spoken to the policemen LTO will deputize that we will begin apprehending violators next week)," Caindec said.

In a post on his Facebook page, Caindec said he understands the negative reaction to the rule but the rule is necessary because the country is in a state of national health emergency.

“We understand your points of view. Dili mi stupid, but the entire country is in a state of national health emergency. Sabta na. Kasabot mi ninyo, kay many of our employees, friends and relatives are affected by this. Kasabot mi because we know how many people are affected by this, apil na mga users sa ANGKAS, habal-habals and even families. Kamo nakasabot mo ngano? (We understand your points of view. We are not stupid. But please understand that the entire country is in a state of national health emergency. We understand you because we know how many people are affected by this including users of ANGKAS, motorcycles for hire, and even families. Do you understand why this is important?)," Caindec said in a post on Facebook.

Angkas

In line with this directive, Angkas confirmed with The Freeman it has shut its service down temporary starting Tuesday night.

"Yes, Angkas is shutting down temporarily it's passenger service effective 6pm today (yesterday), in support of the direction of the DoTR, LTO, LTFRB and the city government on social distancing," said Gilbert Olan, Angkas-Cebu chief transport advocate.

Olan said resumption of the Angkas passenger service would depend on the authorities.

"As of now, we are shifting our focus on delivery (parcel and curb side) services to help our bikers/partners continue with their livelihood," said Olan.

To date, Angkas Cebu has 4,500 bikers/partners.

PUVs

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 Director Eduardo Montealto yesterday echoed the directive from the LTFRB head office for all public utility vehicles to reduce to 50 percent the number of passengers they should ferry in line with the social distancing rule.

Drivers and operators also cannot charge the passengers extra for the empty spaces. Those who will do so will be fined P5,000.

Montealto said they have apprehended 30 jeepney units in Talisay City for violating the social distancing rule.

"Hangyo lang gyud mi sa mga drivers nga motuman lang gyud ta kay mag unsa man ang inyong usa ka libo nga income kung ang penalty P5,000? (We request the drivers to just follow the rule because your P1,000 income will be nothing if you have to pay P5,000 as fine)" said Montealto.

And the P5,000 fine is only for the first offense. The driver will be fined P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 for the third offense plus a suspension of the vehicle’s certificate of public convenience for 30 days.

Montealto urged for patience and understanding as the government works on containing the spread of the virus.

Greg Perez, president of Pinagkaisang  Samahan ng mga Tsuper Nationwide-Cebu said the new rule puts a huge dent on the driver’s earnings, especially that the number of passengers have become smaller because of the cancellation of classes and because of the work-from-home policy implemented by some companies. 

Benjamin Ryan Yu, general manager and president of the Cebu Integrated Transport Cooperative, said 80 percent of their 800 jeepney units are still operating but on a deficit.

"Dako kaayo ug alkanse ang operations sa unit. But we looking for mitigating measures para maka serve ra gihapon. I hope government will subsidize. Mga 80 percent pa amg nagdagan but I don't know for how long makaya sa mga members ang pag-operate on the negative (We are operating on a deficit but we are looking for mitigating measures so we can continue to serve the public. I hope the government will subsidize. Eighty percent of our vehicles are still on the streets but we don’t know for how long we can continue to operate on the negative)," Yu said.

Curfew

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, Police Director Engelbert Soriano said they will give particular focus on the elderly in implementing the curfew in line with the community quarantine in the city.

He said it is important to keep the elderly of the streets, especially that majority of those infected by the disease are senior citizens. DOH has reported that 70 percent of the patients are senior citizens.

"We will have a little bias towards senior citizens na nasa labas… para lang ma-spare sila doon sa infection ng virus (We will be a little biased toward senior citizens who stay outdoors if only to spare them from getting infected by the virus),"  Soriano said.

He said they have not experienced resistance from the public in the implementation of the checkpoints and curfew in the first two days of the quarantine. But he warned that they will be stricter in implementing the curfew.

 He said the police will also ask the help of barangay officials in implementing the curfew, especially that the number of policemen is very limited. 

"At this time, yung nga punong barangay at mga tanod should act as police and law enforcers for purposes of warning and implementing the quarantine law of the government (At this time, barangay captains and tanods should act as police and law enforcers for purposes of warning and implementing the quarantine law of the government)," Soriano said.

He also warned that owners of establishments that refuse to close will be arrested if they fail to heed the first warning.

The police will intensify checkpoints to enforce the curfew better with additional 200 personnel from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 and 50 others from the military. JMO (FREEMAN)