LGUs warned to strictly enforce ‘no backriding’ policy for motorcycles

MANILA:  There will be no backriding for motorcycles under any circumstance. That’s the unequivocal message the government is sending to every LGU (local government unit) around the country.

“Sa mga local government units na nagkukunsinti nito, well, siguro po pupuwedeng isyuhan sila ng show-cause order (To local government units tolerating this, well, they could be issued a show cause order),” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) is the supervising agency that overlooks each LGU and is its head, Secretary Eduardo Año, is vehemently against any form of motorcycle backriding.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas, who was involved in the controversial "mañanita" that may have allegedly broken several quarantine rules, has been directed to check violations, particularly in Manila and Quezon City.

President Duterte, a motorcycle enthusiast himself, has overturned Cebu governor Gwen Garcia’s executive order allowing backriding within the province of Cebu.

“The law is hard but it is the law. It's not my discretion. Just because I'm the President does not mean that I can ignore the laws of the land,” said Duterte.

Año earlier suggested motorcycle owners install a sidecar to be able to bring family members along but he later stated that tricycles are prohibited from getting on national highways.

Photo from the Department of Transportation Viber page, courtesy of Robertzon Ramirez

Also read: DOTr lays down public transportation regulations for GCQ areas