CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has decided not to prohibit leisure biking just yet, after noting that bikers have been compliant to the health protocols during the ultimatum period the authorities have given to them before recommending to the Emergency Operations Center to ban the activity in the city.
Police Lt. Colonel Wilbert Parilla, Deputy City Director for Operations, said the bikers religiously followed health protocols during the one week period given to them to comply the protocols otherwise they will no longer be allowed on the streets.
Over the weekend, only one biker was apprehended by the police for not wearing his mask.
"So atong nakita nga nisunod ug nituman ang atong katawhan bisan og nagbagutbot," said Parilla.
Earlier, leisure bikers turned to social media to express their indignation over the policy arguing that wearing a mask while biking makes it hard for them to breathe. But despite objecting the policy, bikers were forced to observe the health protocol otherwise they will be apprehended and face ban on the streets.
Parilla explained that leisure bikers should not take it against them because the same protocol is also applied to those individuals using bicycle as mode of transportation in going to and from their work.
"Nganong magsul-ob man sila og facemask? So what is the difference kung leisure biker sa mga trabahante nga nag-bike? Why are they able to follow?" Parilla asked.
Parilla, however, expressed gratitude to the leisure bikers for heeding to the policy.
"Pwede gyud diay nga buhaton nato, so ato lang ni syang gihangop kay para man ni sa atong kaayohan, dako kaayo atong pasalamat nga nituman sa lagda nga atong gipatuman," he said.
The CCPO is hopeful that leisure bikers will continue to observe protocols until we are out of the pandemic. — FPL (FREEMAN)