MinDA asks IATF to recall motorcycle barrier policy

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Saying it would just add an unnecessary financial burden on the poor during these difficult times, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has asked the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to reconsider and suspend its policy requiring barriers for motorcycle pillion riders.

The barrier, according to the IATF, was meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) between couples sharing a motorcycle ride.

In a memorandum forwarded to the IATF, MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol said the new policy, which would take effect on August 1, “will be an added financial burden on poor families whose only means of movement is the motorcycle.”

Piñol said putting up the barrier is impractical since it makes riding tandem dangerous because a strong gust of wind caused by huge vehicles coming from the opposite direction could throw the motorcycle off-balance and may lead to accidents.

Piñol said the policy is expensive and oppressive as the barrier “will be an added financial burden on poor families who use motorcycles for livelihood and transport and the excessive fines on violators of the policy could open a new window for corruption.”

This regulation requiring a barrier on motorcycles, he said, is also viewed as “discriminatory because the concern on the possible transmission [of COVID-19] between two people traveling together is only focused on motorcycle-riding but ignores the fact that those traveling inside air-conditioned private cars face greater risks.”

He added that the policy would affect efforts to restart the economy in Mindanao, as well as in other rural areas of the country where the motorcycle is the main vehicle for transport and livelihood.

Piñol said the memorandum was to give IATF officials “a clearer understanding of the reaction of the common Filipino on the ground.”

“I consider myself a field operative heading an agency, which is well-grounded, thus it is my duty to provide feedback to our policymakers,” he said.

Piñol said that while MinDA supports IATF’s effort to control the spread of the virus, “there are other ways of doing it other than implementing measures which would make life more difficult for our people.”

Earlier, Misamis Oriental IATF spokesman Jeffrey Saclot said the barrier is not necessary as the wearing of face mask and full-face helmet are enough to shield both riders from the transmission of saliva.

LZB