SAFETY INNOVATION. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. shows his personally designed safety innovation on motorcycles to allow safe physical distancing between the driver and the back rider on Friday (June 5, 2020). The innovation has a transparent protective shield behind the driver and a handlebar provided for back rider’s safety. (Photo courtesy of Capitol PIO)
ILOILO CITY -- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. has personally created an innovative design to make safe physical distancing possible between a motorcycle driver and the back rider.
On Friday, Defensor has submitted his proposal for the use of motorcycles and tricycles during the modified enhanced community quarantine to Eric Lenard Tabaldo, regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO 6) in Western Visayas.
The safety innovation of the governor featured a transparent protective shield for the back rider to maintain physical distance from the driver. The back rider is also provided with a handlebar for safety.
In his proposal, Defensor laid down to the LTO the prohibitions and requirements to allow motorcycle as a mode of transportation during the quarantine period.
Defensor said motorcycles shall only allow one back rider provided that “between the driver and the back rider, there shall be a divider or windshield made of non-porous and transparent material”
“The back rider and driver shall wear crash helmets, face masks and gloves and perform disinfecting procedures immediately before and after the trip,” he added.
The governor has allowed motorcycle back riding when the general community quarantine started in the province last May 15.
However, he amended his executive order and prohibited motorcycle back riding last May 26 to align the province’s guidelines with national issuances, particularly the LTO Memorandum Circular 2020-2185 or the “Guidelines in the Enforcement of Regulations Issued by the Department of Transportation Relative to the Operation of Department of Transportation in the General Community Quarantine Areas”.
Meanwhile, for tricycles, Defensor proposed to the LTO to allow three passengers – one passenger each at the front seat, back seat, and back rider. Iloilo tricycles are four-seater with front and back passenger seats.
He said a divider made of non-porous and transparent material shall also be placed between the front seat and the back seat.
The driver and the back rider of the tricycle shall be separated by a windshield also made of non-porous or transparent material.
“There shall be no physical contact between the driver and the back rider during the ride,” he said.
The driver and the passengers should also wear face masks and perform disinfecting procedures immediately before and after the trip. (PNA)
