The provincial government here is appealing to the Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Office (DOTr-LTO) to allow motorcycle backriders as Antique remains under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
In a press conference Tuesday, Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said that she will again appeal to the DOTr-LTO as her previous one sent on May 19 was denied.
She said this was the sentiment of passengers in the remote areas of the province and the affected motorcycle drivers.
“As the province is still under the MGCQ starting today until the end of the month, then hopefully the DOTr-LTO could also consider the plight of the motorcycle drivers whose livelihood had already been affected,” she said.
Cadiao discussed this with members of the provincial board, municipal mayors, and the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) at the Binirayan gymnasium here on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Board member Fernando Corvera Sr. motioned that the governor again appeals to the DOTr.
Board Member Victor Condez added a full-face visor for motorcycle drivers be allowed for easy identification.
Moreover, Board Member Karmila Rose Dimamay said they should also take into account that members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response (BHERT) teams who monitor locally stranded individuals (LSIs) use motorcycles as their means of public transport.
Antique has 11,986 registered motorcycle units.
During the meeting, it was also decided that curfew hours remain from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
“Curfew is also an effective deterrence to crime,” Cadiao said during the press conference.
Curfew was implemented at the start of the enhanced community quarantine on March 16.
The governor said those 60 years old and above and below 20 years old, will still not be allowed to go out except when buying essential needs.
Restaurants will now be allowed to open and serve dine-in food subject to health protocols.
“Restaurant owners are allowed to serve 50 percent of the sitting capacity,” she said.
Source: Philippines News Agency