Quezon City Rep. Precious Castelo is urging the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow motorcycle taxis to operate provided they install plastic shields to separate the driver and the pillion passenger.
“They have already permitted motorbike taxis to resume operations in Indonesia. If they can do it, we can do it to help millions of our people who still have no jobs and income due to quarantine restrictions,” she said.
“Other health protocols would be observed.”
She said the installation of a plastic shield or separator would be required in compliance with physical distancing protocol and to ensure that there would be no contact between the driver and passenger.
“Other health protocols would be observed. The driver should be wearing Department of Health-accepted protective personal equipment, while the passenger should have his/her own helmet and face mask to ensure hygiene protocols. There should be contactless payment with the use of G-Cash or PayMaya. The use of government endorsed StaySafe app to determine probability of contamination could be required,” she said.
Castelo suggested that the IATF pattern the design of the passenger separator from that being used in Indonesia, where many commuters patronize motorcycle taxis as a form of transportation similar to the Philippines.
“Allowing motorcycle taxis to run again will ease congestion in public transportation” she stressed.
Motorbike taxis are a cheaper, faster and more convenient means of transport for workers, she said.
“Motorbike taxis are a cheaper, faster and more convenient means of transport for workers.”
She noted that in areas under general community quarantine, half of public transportation, including jeepneys and taxis, remains grounded.
Castelo said the other half that has been allowed to run “cannot accommodate workers, who get stranded or late in arriving at their workplaces.”
“As a result, they suffer salary cuts as penalties, or worse, they are handed their walking papers for being frequently late. The IATF could help them avoid those consequences if it allows motorcycle taxis that comply with physical distancing and other health protocols to operate again,” she said.
Permitting them to run again would also enable those engaged in such service before the COVID-19 outbreak to reclaim their means of livelihood, she added.
She pointed out that though many of these small entrepreneurs resorted to food and product delivery during the lockdown, not all of them have been accommodated.