Backriding allowed in MECQ areas

MOTORCYCLE backriding is allowed in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), but only for frontliners or those classified as authorized persons outside residence (APOR), LtGen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Tuesday.

The National Task Force Against Covid-19 allowed pillion riding in Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan as long as a barrier separates the passenger and the rider.

Eleazar noted that the rider and the passenger could be non-relatives. The wearing of face masks remain a must.

“Motorcycle backriding will be an essential mode of transportation to ensure that no frontliners and other essential workers would be stranded as they go out to report to work and on their way back home,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, people who want to avail of essential goods and other services outside their communities will not be allowed to backride.

Eleazar said the motorcycle driver and passenger should present to policemen manning the quarantine control points an identification card and other documents proving they were essential workers and that their travel was work-related.

More checkpoints will be set up in areas under MECQ, particularly along the boundaries of cities and municipalities.

“We hope that this will help our medical workers and other frontliners during the entire MECQ period, and we also ask motorcycle riders to follow the guidelines to ensure their smooth and safe travel,” Eleazar said.

On the other hand, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said they would not arrest violators for the initial days of MECQ.

For the first three days, all violators would only be warned.

Gamboa told policemen to enforce maximum tolerance and asked the public to cooperate with the law enforcers

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