PNP NegOr allows one backrider for motorists
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 13 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental has allowed motorcycle riders to carry one backrider provided they will strictly follow proper health protocols.
PNP Negros Oriental Public Information Officer PSMSgt. Edilberto Euraoba III, in an advisory, said the order came from Provincial Director PCol. Julian Entoma.
“Bisan pa naluwatan nga unang direktiba nga gadili ang pagpalasti sa motorsiklo nihatag ug temporaryong pagtugot si PCOL. Entoma gumikan sa hangyo sa mga lokal na kagamhanan sa pagtugut tungod kay mao lamang kini ang pamaagi sa uban sa ilang transportasyon (Although there was an earlier directive to prohibit motorists from carrying backriders, PCol. Entoma lifted this temporarily as per the request of Local Government Units as motorcycle is the only mode of transportation in their area),” Euraoba said.
Euraoba said the provincial police director is also allowing individuals such as health workers or those involved in the delivery of basic necessities to let their co-workers ride in their motorcycles as long as they will observe health protocols and undergo thermal scanning when entering checkpoints.
Negros Oriental is currently under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to COVID-19 in which the movement of people is restricted until the health situation returns to normal.
However,Entoma clarified that “habal-habal” drivers are still prohibited from picking up passengers.
They can only can have one relative as a backrider.
In a related issue, the provincial police director also responded to questions on why tricycles are still allowed to ply the streets and pick up passengers despite the imposition of ECQ.
Entoma explained the Executive Order (EO) which puts the province under ECQ does not specify tricycles or pedicabs as part of the mass transport vehicles that are prohibited from roaming the streets.
“Based sa atong ECQ, ang buot ipasabot nato ug mass transport iyong gitagaan ug franchise sa national agencies like the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The tricycle is not governed by LTFRB. That is locally franchised. Silent man diha ang executive order, therefore, iyong mga local chief executive na nagtugot na ang tricycle sa ilang area makabiyahe pero mosunod sa social distancing dili nato na ma-construed na nag-violate sa ECQ ni Governor Roel Degamo (Based on our ECQ, mass transport refers to vehicles that were given franchise by the national government agencies like the LTFRB. The tricycle is not governed by LTFRB. That is locally franchised. The EO does not say something about it therefore, those LGUs who allowed tricycles to continuously ply the streets in their area as long as they are practicing social distancing cannot be misconstrued as violating the ECQ of Governor Roel Degamo),” Entoma explained.
He noted that unlike in Metro Manila where there are many forms of mass transport vehicles governed by LTFRB, the mass transport in the province is only limited to buses and jeepneys. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1038798