La Trinidad allows pillion riding

MAYOR Romeo Salda issued on September 8 Executive Order (EO) 76-2020, allowing angkas in the municipality with prescribe guidelines for motorists.

Although the Inter-Agency Task Force already allowed angkas, Salda said there is still a need to localize through an executive order to suit the town's conditions and circumstances, citing motorcycles as an essential and convenient mode of transportation, which ensures that no frontliners and other essential workers would be stranded as they go out to report to work.

Under the order, pillion riding in the municipality is allowed for essential work-related travel and allowed for Authorized Persons Outside Residence (Apors), spouses, and residents of the same house.

Both the driver and back-rider must both wear full-face helmets and the motorcycle must be privately owned and not hired during the trip.

They must also be able to present valid IDs, and other documents to prove they are spouses, essential workers or Apors and observe minimum health protocols such as wearing of face masks.

Last month, the IATF on Covid-19 allowed pillion riding for Apors in local government units (LGUs) under general community quarantine (GCQ), modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

The province of Benguet, including La Trinidad, is under MGCQ.

Following the Municipal IATF meeting, the use of motorcycle barriers in the town was deemed dangerous and no longer required.

The directive added that pursuant to the order of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, the operation of motorcycles is subject to the guidelines of the LGUs.