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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Recto lauds move on motorcycle barriers

Recto lauds move on motorcycle barriers

Published Aug 19, 2020 03:27 pm

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto lauded Wednesday the government's decision to finally withdraw its order requiring pillion-riding spouses and partners who live in the same residence to install motorcycle barriers.

Senate Ralph Recto (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)

"The barrier to common sense has finally been lifted," Recto said in a statement.

"No IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) rule triggered the greatest resistance and launched the most jokes. And the fact that they stonewalled for a long time and stubbornly defended it, despite evidence to the contrary, inflicted damage on their reputation," he added.

"People were saying that if IATF can’t understand this simple thing, how can they be trusted on complex missions," he said.

After requiring and warning that penalties will be imposed on spouses who do not have motorcycle barriers between them, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield announced Tuesday that barriers will no longer be required for riders and backriders who live in the same house.

The barriers will only be required for pillion riders that do not live together.

The decision came after the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) approved the recommendation of the JTF COVID Shield to further ease the restrictions on married and living-in couples, family members, and even people who are not related but live in the same residence.

The requirement to install motorcycle barriers had been criticized by the public, motorcycle enthusiasts, and even some senators as they feared that the order would just compromise the safety of riders and backriders.

Authorities repeatedly defended the plan as a measure to counter the transmission of COVID-19.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, NTF vice chairman, slammed motorcycle experts and groups for opposing these barriers, telling them to just leave the management of the coronavirus pandemic to the government.

"'Pagdating sa motor naniniwala ako na expert kayo, pero pag dating sa pandemic, huwag kayong nagmamarunong kasi kailangan pag-aralan ano ba talaga ‘tong virus na ito (When it come to motorcycles I believe you are experts, but when it comes to the pandemic, don’t play experts because you really have to study what this virus is),” Año said in a forum in Bohol last July 31.

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