Cebu mayors favor lifting of ban on motorcycle backriders
CEBU — Three Cebu local executives seek the lifting of the ban on motorcycle backriding to help address the transportation requirements of their respective areas.
Talisay City Mayor Samsam Gullas, Carcar City Vice Mayor Nicepuro Apura, and Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado agreed that the motorcycle remains the most convenient transport in their respective areas.
The three officials indicated their support for motorcycle backriding during the Thursday edition of Mugstoria Ta aired live on the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).
From the start, Mayor Gullas noted that his stand had been to allow motorcycle backriding for husbands and wives, and even family members.
“Ako lang unta nga mapadayon na nga pwede mag-angkas kay mao na ang main transportation sa city (I would like to appeal that backriding for motorcycles because it is the main transportation in the city) especially for family members,” Gullas said in answer to a question from Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales.
He hoped that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and other agencies would look at the situation on the ground.
“Hopefully, they can reconsider their position regarding the backriders for motorcycles,” Gullas added.
Echoing the position of Gullas, Vice Mayor Apura also asked that backriding on motorcycles would be allowed again.
The vice mayor requested that single motorcycles be allowed to be used as means of public transportation or if not, allow backriding for husbands and wives.
Apura maintained that measures could be implemented to prevent the occurrence of traffic congestion when motorcycles would be stopped to check the relationship of motorcycle driver and the backrider.
He added that motorcycles could address the shortage of transportation during this time of crisis.
On the other hand, Mayor Alegado explained that he prefers motorcycle taxis as a mode of transportation since physical distancing was not observed in the four-wheel vehicles being used to transport commuters, which are usually loaded.
He noted that motorcycle drivers could wear masks and use alcohol as sanitizers to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) had issued the ban on motorcycle backriding in March this year to contain the spread of the virus.
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