A TOTAL of 48 motorcycle riders were arrested by Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) in Bacolod City from August 1 and 2 for failure to install barriers as part of the measures to protect riders against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Police Lieutenant Colonel Luisito Acebuche, head of BTAO, said yesterday on the first day of the implementation of the backriding policy on August 1, they arrested a total of 28 violators in various areas of Bacolod after riders failed to put up barrier on their motorcycles.

He said another 20 violators were arrested on August 2 and all of them were fined of P1,000 and above.

“They were travelling with back riders so they need to install a barrier on their motorcycle because that is the rule now,” he added.

Based on the guidelines issued by the PNP Directorate for Operations in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and as approved by PNP chief, General Archie Francisco Gamboa, all police commanders and the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) were instructed to start apprehending violators starting August 1 and impose penalties of P1,000 to P10,000.

“We will continue our operation to arrest the motorcycle riders and back riders who fail to put up a barrier on the motorcycle,” Acebuche said.

He said it’s a national directive and they need to strictly enforce it.

The Bacolod City Council earlier approved a resolution asking the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-MEID) to reconsider the requirement of requiring the motorist to install a barrier in a motorcycle before allowing an "Angkas" or back rider for reasons of safety and impracticality.

DILG issued an advisory advising all local government units that the backriding on motorcycles shall be allowed in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the IATF-MEID.

The advisory mentioned the guidelines to be observed such as couples living in the same bed; presentation of valid identification cards as proof that the said persons are living together or are married to one another, or have relation to one another or common law marriage, boyfriend and girlfriend, etc.; safety barriers/shield whose design is duly approved by the IATF national must be placed between the driver and the passenger; said persons riding motorcycles shall observe minimum public health standards set forth by the Department of Health, such as the wearing of face masks and other relevant personal protective equipment; and riders shall also observe all road-safety measures during their ride, such as the donning appropriate motorcycle safety headwear or cash helmets.