New full-face helmet requirement, expense exasperates motorcyclists

Motorcycle riders on Tuesday expressed their frustration with the new full-face helmet requirement set by the government, saying that this was an additional expense amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

According to Jun Venaracion’s report on “24 Oras,” motorcyclists complained that they had already spent what money they had on the protective barrier requirement, which authorities later withdrew for riders living in the same household.

“Ang mahal kasi ng helmet ngayon, sir… ‘Yung barrier kasi bili ko P650 din ‘yun,” one rider said.

“Ngayon, sa helmet naman gagastos na naman kami,” her companion added.

In Manila's Quiapo district, helmet prices ranged from P500 to P2,000, depending on the kind of helmet and its quality.

Motorcycle rider Edelyn Ayuda, who previously bought a protective shield for P650, wished that protocols were not constantly evolving given the present difficult circumstances.

Meanwhile, wearing a face shield with a helmet instead of a visor was still not allowed.

Violators would be ticketed and fined P1,000.

However, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar clarified that pillion passengers were only required to have a helmet with a full-face visor, though a full-face helmet would also be acceptable. — DVM, GMA News