DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) Director Colonel Kirby John Kraft said they will start implementing the “No Backride Policy” on motorcycles in the wake of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic regardless if both the driver and the backrider are wearing protective devices.
“This is in compliance to the policy on physical distancing. If we allow backride then we are violating physical distancing (policy). This is a crucial time in controlling the Covid-19 virus or all our efforts in quarantine will be futile,” Kraft said.
Earlier, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio allowed backride provided that they are wearing face masks and both the driver and backrider are directly related to each other. But as of yesterday, Kraft clarified to SunStar Davao backrides will no longer be allowed in the city in an effort to stop the further spread of the virus.
Kraft added that they started implementing the policy on Thursday, March 26.
Erring motorists may be penalized for violation of Section 9 of RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act for noncooperation in the implementation of quarantine. Also, the violators may be charged for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code or disobedience to person in authority.
Kraft, meanwhile, urged the public to cooperate and follow the guidelines which are meant for the general welfare amid the serious health crisis.
The new policy, however, drew questions and confusion to the public.
A Facebook user who goes by the name Zayros, asked for the basis of the policy. He says the policy only puts them at risk since they will be forced to ride public utility jeepney that does not likely to implement social distancing.
“Please provide implementing rules and regulations about this matter. Kay mostly sa backride kay family members lang (Backriders are usually family members). If you think that we are violating the social distancing rule. Then you are violating our right to protect ourselves from people we don’t know by riding public transportation. If our jobs don’t allow us to work, we won’t compromise already. Hence our job required us to go to work amid crisis,” he said.
The Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region reported that as of 9 a.m. on March 27, they have a total of 78 admitted patients under investigation (PUIs) in the two state-run hospitals in the region while positive patients remain at six.