Conditional motorcycle backriding allowed in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, July 10 (PIA) – Riding-in-tandem is now allowed in the city as pronounced by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, provided the driver and the passenger are husband and wife or live-in couple living in the same address. 

Police Colonel Kirby John Kraft, director of the Davao City Police Office said they are waiting for the implementing guidelines of this policy. 

He said in the absence of the guidelines, the police will allow only the husband and wife and common-law-couple to ride together. 

Kraft supposed the couple can readily show the same surname in their IDs as one of the requirements of the policy.

“We expect that anytime today, the policy will go out from Camp Crame,” Kraft said. 

He clarified based on the PNP national headquarters for operations that there are three requirements like the couple lives together in the same household, whether they are married, or common-law couple, living in the same address, and the presence of a protective barrier between the driver and the passenger.

Kraft observed among the three requirements, the third prerequisite may take time to fulfill. 

“The motorcycle has to be modified with the presence of a protective barrier between the driver and passenger as recommended by Governor Arthur Yap of Bohol to the Inter-Agency Task Force,” Kraft said. 

He said once the Police National Headquarters in Camp Crame releases the memorandum order, the police will implement the order on the quarantine control points allowing a couple to ride together in a motorcycle, with the corresponding barrier. 

Kraft reminded the citizenry to follow the health protocols like wearing of masks in public, social distancing, washing of hands with soap and water and bringing of alcohol. 

On the other hand, despite the pronouncement of SILG Eduardo Ano, allowing riding-in-tandem of couple, Atty Loida Ignanes, legal officer of the Land Transportation Office clarified that their office has not received an official copy of the new guidelines. 

She said based on the pronouncement of national leaders, riding-in-tandem is allowed only for husband and wife, with corresponding helmets and masks, living in one provided there is a barrier to ensure social distancing. 

Ignanes said they are waiting for the contents of the new guidelines.  

She clarified that a violation is committed if any of the three requirements is not complied. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)