The motorcycle shield design submitted by Gov. Arthur Yap is the one that got the approval of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) to be used in motorcycles so that pilliory riding or motorcycle backriding will be allowed.
Yap introduced the motorcycle shield in a press briefing at the Capitol last June 12, 2020 to minimize the possibility of virus transmission between the driver and the backrider.
The IATF has allowed pillory riding or motorcycle backriding at least for couples with strict health protocols. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Eduardo Año bared this information in a national television interview on Thursday, July 9, 2020.
Año said that motorcycle backriding will be allowed as long as there is a shield between the motorcycle driver and the one riding behind the driver. The design submitted by Yap got the nod of the IATF.
For his part, Yap is elated that the national authorities listened to the suggestions of those who belong in the local level.
The governor said that while the motorcycling backriding shall be allowed tomorrow, July 10. 2020, it will take time for motorcycle owners to install the shields on the vehicles. Without the shields, the motorcycle driver will still be arrested for violating social distancing rules if someone is pilliory riding or backriding on the motorcycle.
He also said that the implementation of the motorcycle backriding will be regulated by the various local government units.
The governor bared that it is important to provide the people a wide array of transportation options so they will not crowd the transport terminals and in effect violate social distancing rules.
Also in a report, the governor said that other safety standards should be followed like wearing of helmets and face masks are going to be strictly implemented.
In a report, Yap said that the provincial government submitted several designs to the IATF in a bid to allow the motorcycle backriding at least among family members.
He reiterated that the new IATF directive is not applicable for habal-habal operations. Allowing habal-habal operations would need another directive from the IATF.