Deadline for motorcycle barrier extended to July 26: police

An inter-agency task force has extended the deadline for installing protective dividers for pillion riding on motorcycles to July 26, from July 20, police said Tuesday.

"Sa July 27 na po kami manghuhuli kung sakaling may violation doon," said Joint Task Force COVID Shield Commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

(We will apprehend violators on July 27.)

The government has approved 2 prototypes for the barrier: a shield attached to the motorcycle and designed by the Bohol provincial government, and a second backpack-like design by ride-hailing platform Angkas.

"As long as ito po ay kahawig, kawagis o kapareho ng ating mga prototype—na inilabas naman pati sukat, measurement at mga gamit—iyon naman po ay ia-allow natin," said Eleazar.

(As long as ito as the shield resembles our prototypes—measurements and materials for which were released online—we will allow it.)

Motorcycle backrides are allowed only for married couples or live-in partners, he said.

As of Monday, authorities have flagged down 9,000 pairs for unauthorized pairs backrides, Eleazar told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

"Puwede na pong hulihin iyon dahil hindi po kasama sa grace period iyon—kahit may barrier," he said.

(We can arrest them because they are not covered by the grace period, even if they have a barrier between each other.)

TeleRadyo, July 20, 2020