Remulla appeals to gov’t to allow back-riding on motorcycles for couples in Cavite

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla is appealing to the national government to allow back-riding on motorcycles, especially on couples, as public transportation is still limited in the province, which is now under general community quarantine.

Remulla wrote a letter addressed to Health Secretary Francisco Duque, the chairman of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, regarding his request.

"Ang nais ko po sanang idulog ay mapayagan ang back-riding sa kaso ng mga mag-asawa at nagsasama. Sila po ay natutulog sa iisang kama, kumakain sa iisang mesa, naghahati sa iisang mangkok ng kanin at nagpapasa ng ulam nang naka-kamay. Ganito po ang buhay dito at sa buong bansa," Remulla said on Thursday.

"Tama lang po sigurong payagan ang mag-asawa at mga nagsasama na sumakay sa iisang motorsiklo," he added.

According to Remulla, the local government can issue a "couples pass" for those husband and wife who will ride motorcycles to go to work or to buy essentials.

The governor also said the local government may require couples to bring their marriage contract so that they could show this when passing through quarantine control points.

Remulla said there are more or less 400,000 motorcycles across the province being used by residents as a form of transportation.

"Ito ang pangunahing paraan ng transportasyon sa aming lugar kung saan karamihan ay middle class. Araw-araw makikita mo silang paliko-liko sa kalsada, rumaragasa upang makarating sa mga pabrika at iba pang mga lugar na kanilang pinagtratrabahuhan," he said.

The national government has banned back-riding on motorcycles to ensure that social distancing is being observed in this time of health crisis. — RSJ, GMA News