By Jigger J. Jerusalem,
Correspondent
AS THE requiring of installation of a protective barrier on motorcycles took effect recently, two political figures here have asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order against the policy.
In their seven-page petition, Reuben Daba, an incumbent city councilor, and Walter Kiunisala, a former council member of Barangay 16, this city, argued that the putting up of the barrier poses risk, aside from being impractical.
The petition was submitted at the Regional Trial Court Branch 41, Friday afternoon, Aug. 7.
In their petition, the signatories have reiterated the stand of those who oppose the installation of protecive barrier on motorcycles as posing a hazard to both rider and pillion, especially to those who rely on motorcycles for transportation and livelihood.
“Motorcycle experts have already pointed out that not only is it unsafe and untested, it is also an unnecessary cost to the driver and rider,” said the petitioners.
They said this regulation crafted by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) is “anti-poor for it would be an added expense to the household as far as daily commute is concerned plus having to shell out another expense to put up the barrier in compliance with the policy.”
If safety is the underlying reason for IATF’s insistence on its implementation, the petitioners have questioned the task force’s decision to allow jeepneys and other public utility vehicles that take in multiple passengers.
“Why does it allow PUJs or PUVs to ply their routes as there would be a greater chance that one would get infected is such a close or cramped space with all sorts of passengers with only a thin, flimsy, and transparent sheet or acetate for cover,” they said.
“There is also the issue of re-circulated air in air-conditioned public transport vehicles. While that of a motorcycle, there is only the spouse or partner that the driver comes into contact or interact with during the ride,” they added.
In addition, the petitioners argued that installing a barrier between the rider and pillion is not necessary since they live in the same household.
“There is actually no need to install it as couples are regularly exposed to each other anyway,” they said.
The petitioners have also attached a copy of the city council resolution, dated July 27, urging the IATF to reconsider the mandatory installation of barrier in single motorcycles to their petition.
Lawyer James Judith, the petitioners’ legal counsel, said they are urging others, individuals and motorcycle groups who are affected by this policy, to take the same action in their respective areas.
“This is just the beginning. We hope others will follow suit. We started this to show that we can do something,” Judith said Saturday (Aug. 8).
