DONATION. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (center) and JTF Covid Shield chief, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (left) receive the motorcycle barriers donated by Angkas head transport advocate George Royeca (right) in Camp Crame on Friday (Aug. 7, 2020). Aside from the motorcycle barriers donation, Angkas will also provide free rides to medical workers in hospitals identified by the Department of Health. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas on Friday donated 1,000 motorcycle barriers to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Covid Shield.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and task force chief, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar received the motorcycle barriers from Angkas head transport advocate George Royeca in a simple ceremony in Camp Crame, Quezon City
“This benevolent act of the Angkas Group led by Mr. George Royeca is a clear manifestation that the spirit of bayanihan is very much alive and continues to be a defining value of Filipinos especially in this time of global pandemic,” Eleazar said.
In coordination with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, Eleazar said the motorcycle barriers will be given to various police stations in Metro Manila for distribution to qualified motorcycle drivers.
He added that they will give priority to motorcycle riders who regularly ferry their spouses, live-in partners, relatives and friends who work as medical front-liners.
“With this initiative, we are honored of this opportunity for your JTF Covid Shield to effectively shield both motorcycle drivers and their back-riders from possible coronavirus infection because this is who we are, this is what we are mandated to do, and this is the frontline that we must hold and defend to eventually protect as many Filipino people from the coronavirus disease 2019,” he added.
Meanwhile, based on the agreement between the JTF Covid Shield and Angkas, 1,000 Angkas riders would be deployed near hospitals identified by the Department of Health to provide free rides to health workers attending to coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patients, particularly the Philippine General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Ospital ng Sampaloc in Manila; the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City; and the Tala Hospital in Caloocan City.
Some Angkas riders will also be placed on standby at the National Kidney Institute, Quezon City General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; and, Ospital ng Maynila as well as Fabella Hospital in Manila.
Medical workers who are on their way home could approach the Angkas riders and present their identification cards to avail of free rides on their way back to their respective places of residence.
“This endeavor will ensure that our medical front-liners can perform their tasks and not be hampered by lack of transportations on their way for work, and back home,” Eleazar added.
Meanwhile, Año defended anew the government's motorcycle barrier policy.
He said those who continue to criticize have nothing better to suggest, adding that waiving the requirement could result in the greater number of people being infected by Covid-19.
While admitting that some of them might be experts in motorcycle riding or operations, Año said they should study first pandemics before protesting.
The barrier requirement drew flak from motorcycle groups who cited the aspect of aerodynamics, with some calling the idea “stupid”, alleging that it can cause more harm to the rider and its passengers.
However, Año said the measure has a scientific basis, noting the requirement is also being used by Indonesia as part of their anti-Covid-19 prevention measures.
Last month, the National Task Force Against Covid-19 allowed pillion riding with the use of barriers only for married couples and live-in partners who are living in the same residence.
However, pillion riding was allowed for front-liners and Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) in areas placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) such as Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite, provided that it follows the barriers requirement and that no fees are involved.
Royeca earlier conceptualized one of two designs of motorcycle barriers which were later approved by the government in compliance with safety protocols for pillion riding amid the health crisis. (PNA)
