CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Saying it would just add an unnecessary financial burden on the poor during these difficult times, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has asked the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases to reconsider and suspend its policy requiring barriers for motorcycle pillion riders. The barrier, according to the IATF, was meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) between couples sharing a motorcycle ride. ADVERTISEMENTIn a memorandum forwarded to the IATF, MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol said the new policy, which would take effect on August 1, “will be an added financial burden on poor families whose only means of movement is the motorcycle.”Piñol said putting up the barrier is impractical since it makes riding tandem dangerous because a strong gust of wind caused by huge vehicles coming from the opposite direction could throw the motorcycle off-balance and may lead to accidents. Piñol said the memorandum was to give IATF officials “a clearer understanding of the reaction of the common Filipino on the ground.”“I consider myself a field operative heading an agency, which is well-grounded, thus it is my duty to provide feedback to our policymakers,” he said. ADVERTISEMENTLZBRead NextEDITORS' PICKMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 29, 2020 03:00 UTC