TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city suggested that motorcycle makers should be consulted first if they will allow a barrier be placed on the motorbikes.
This idea of Mayor Romualdez came on the heels as the government through the Inter-Agency Task Force(IATF) mandated that a barrier should be placed in between the motorcycle driver and his companion as a way to avoid of contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The IATF approved motorcycle shields should be made of acrylic or any other similar material and not from glass to avoid accidents.
“Unang-una ang mahirap lang yun dapat namagsasabi kung pwedeng gawin yun, dapat magpa-alam sa manufacturer. Because if it will compromise the safety of the vehicle, then that is a problem. So dapat i-clear lang yun,” Mayor Romualdez said.
Romualdez added that even the government will make it mandatory, installing a shield should be done by the manufacturers and not by the motorcycle owners.
“Kung ako, kahit sabihin ng gobyerno na pwedeng maglagay nyan, itatanong natin sa Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, pwede bang lagyan, dapat sila na mismo ang gumawa para naman kasama sa pag-warranty yun, baka naman pagbili mo ng motor brand new kabitan mo nyan hindi na nila iwa-warranty yan kasi sasabihin nila hindi na safe,” he said.
The national government orders the Philippine National Police to enforce the said mandate and change the schedule of its enforcement from July 26 to July 30.
Putting a barrier in a motorcycle, however, was met with widespread criticisms among motorcycle owners and the public saying it would not help address the possible spread of COVID-19.
Police Regional Office 8 Regional Director Police B/Gen Bernabe Balba however advises the public to just obey the order.
“Mayroong binigay na diagram kung paano gagawin but sabi nga hindi naman pinipigilan ang iba na magagaling ding magdesign and present their suggestion and for approval from the NIATF,” Balba said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
