Motorbike owners get more time to install barrier

MANILA, Philippines — The government has given motorcycle owners until the end of the month to install physical barriers approved by the National Task Force  (NTF)against COVID-19.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations, said yesterday the deadline was extended until July 31, giving motorcycle riders more time to comply with the government’s directive to install barriers to separate the driver from the passenger.

Eleazar said the latest deadline is final and they will start apprehending couples next month who are on board motorcycles without barriers.

“This will be the most that the government, through our NTF against COVID-19, could give for our motorcycle riders to comply in order for them to be allowed to back-ride their spouses or live-in partners,” he said in a statement.

Eleazar said the second deadline extension was in response to the mounting requests from motorcycle riders to give them more time to comply since some of them do not know where to avail of the approved barrier designs of the Bohol provincial government and motorcycle ride-hailing company Angkas.

The government has allowed couples to use motorcycles because of the lack of public transportation provided they will use barriers to protect them from COVID-19.

Also included are live-in partners and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, provided they are living under one roof.

At least 1,564 motorcycle riders were accosted since July 10 for unauthorized back-riding, which means their companions were neither their spouses nor live-in partners.