Malacanang said they may allow back riding (pillion riders) on motorcycles in principle following a strong public demand amid a shortage in transportation service.

This was announced presidential spokesman Harry Roque, quoting directional change in policies after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced two weeks ago that back riding had been repeatedly rejected by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

The task force raised health safety reasons for not allowing two persons aboard one motorbike. But public pressure intensified after the government allowed a partial reopening of the economy.

With Metro Manila and other business centers now in general community quarantine, a portion of the workforce was also allowed to travel. But their numbers overwhelmed the available public transport as jeepneys, a large portion of buses and the motorbike hailing companies were banned from the roads.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Roque said the IATF has directed the Department of Transportation (DoTr), Department of Health, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and other agencies to convene and determine the safest and most effective manner to reduce the rate of transmission between pillion riders and motorcycle drivers.

“It’s now allowed in principle upon the approval of the requirements by a Technical Working Group,” Roque said. Let us just wait.”

President Rodrigo Duterte has also earlier rejected the plan of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to allow back riding in motorcycles in Cebu, saying he cannot give the city undue advantage by allowing back riding.

The current policy by the DoTr bans the practice regardless of family relations.