CALOOCAN CITY, July 10 (PIA) -- A senior Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) official on Friday said the "prototype" design for a COVID-19 barrier for motorcycles came from local government units (LGUs).

Speaking at the Laging Handa public briefing on Friday, DILG Spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the "NTF-approved" design showing a barrier between the rider and passenger originated from the Provincial Government of Bohol.

"Yung specifications ay inilabas na rin po kahapon at 'yung prototype na galing sa Provincial Government of Bohol led by Governor Yap ang unang naaprubahang disenyo na adjustable depending on the width and the height of the motorcycle," Malaya said.

Although approved, however, the official said the National Task Force on COVID-19-headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano-is still accepting other proposed designs and prototypes, which can be submitted to the concerned government agencies.

"Madami pong disensyo na isinumite at bukas pa rin po ang NTF sa ibang disenyo so kung may iba pang LGUs diyan o mga kompanya ay pwede ninyo itong isumite agad sa NTF COVID-19 sa pamumuno nina General Lorenzana at General Ano para ito po ay ma-assess din ng ating task force," he said.

"Batid naman po natin na iba-iba ang sizes ng mga motorsiklo. Ito po ay nasuri rin ng mga eksperto at maging ang LTO [Land Transportation Office] ay sumusuporta po sa paglalagay ng physical barrier... Kailangan lang po talaga na doble-ingat ang ating mga kababayan kapag gumagamit ng motorsiklo," he added.

Malaya said the measure is to be implemented, starting today, in all areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), as the authorities have allowed motorcycle "back-riding" for couples.

"Inaprubahan na ng National Task Force on COVID-19 'yung mga regulasyon tungkol sa pagpapapayag natin ng angkas or backriding at ngayong araw po ito ilalabas ng NTF," he announced.

Malaya also reminded motorcycle riders to always bring their IDs in case law enforcers would approach them, however, he said there would be no apprehensions done for the moment.

"Kailangan lang po diyan sa mga mag-asawa ay may maipakitang mga dokumento sa ating kapulisan na sila nga ay mag-asawa. Ibig pong sabihin, kailangan ay meron silang ID na dala, preferably government-issued ID, at 'yung kanilang ka-angkas na asawa nila ay kailangan may ID din at magkapareho sila ng apelyido at address dahil importante po 'yun bilang katunayan na sila ay nakatira sa isang bubong," he said.

"Most importantly, 'yun pong physical barrier na inaprubahan ng NTF ay kailangan nakakabit na rin po," he added.

"Sa ngayon, mag-wa-warning muna ang ating mga kapulisan, ngunit sa mga susunod na araw, kung wala pa rin pong mga dokumento o physical barrier na nakakabit ay baka po magkaroon na ng apprehension ang ating kapulisan," he furthered.

To recall, the national government earlier prohibited back-riding on motorcycles amid limited public transportation and quarantine measures in place to prevent the further COVID-19 spread.

"Kahit po dito sa pagpapayag ng backride ay nagsisimula muna tayo sa maliliit na steps and the first step nga po is sa mag-asawa muna natin pinapayagan ang pagba-backride," Malaya said.

"I can see in the future, mabubuksan rin ito sa iba pang miyembro ng pamilya, ngunit sa kasalukuyan ay we have to take babysteps muna because ang ating suliranin sa COVID ay hindi pa naman natin totally nae-eradicate," he added.

"Given the situation, we are doing this slowly. It will depend upon the situation on the ground," he furthered. (PIA NCR)