02/08/2020
huwag "kayong o ikaw" mag marunong mr. Año?
"Huwag kayong nagmamarunong" Sec. Año slams critics of gov't's motorcyle barrier policy
Content Contributor: Archie Villaflores
Information from: Manila Bulletin
See: https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/31/dilg-chief-tells-motorcycle-experts-to-leave-virus-mitigation-to-government/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dilg-chief-tells-motorcycle-experts-to-leave-virus-mitigation-to-government
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday hit back those opposing the government's policy on motorcycle barriers, saying they should not play experts.
In a forum with local chief executives, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief slammed motorcycle experts and enthusiasts who criticized the government-required motorcycle barriers between pillion-riding couples.
“Pero syempre, alam mo, ang daming pilosopo, ang daming critic[s], sabi, ganito, ganyan, ‘di na kailangan ‘yan,” said Año.
“Ang daming mga magagaling, sabi, ‘We are from the motorcycle associations, cyclists’. Sabi ko naman, ‘Pagdating sa motor naniniwala ako na expert kayo, pero pag dating sa pandemic, huwag kayong nagmamarunong kasi kailangan pag-aralan ano ba talaga ‘tong virus na ito," he added.
Año, who is also the vice-chair of National Task Force against COVID-19, made the remark as he thanked anew Bohol Governor Arthur Yap for being among the proponents of the safety barrier in pillion riding.
Some lawmakers and groups of experts have earlier rejected the idea of installing barrier on motorcylces, saying that it would pose danger to the riders and back-riders.
During the forum, Balilihan town Mayor Maria Pureza Chatto raised the concerns of her constituents as she suggested to instead require the riders and passengers to wear full-face helmets and face shield.
But, Año insisted that the motorcyle barrier should be a requirement to better prevent the virus' spread, citing 30 percent of the motorcycle riders remove their face shields in stoplights based on footages of main thoroughfares.
“Kasi naiinitan sila. ‘Pag andar na hindi na naiibaba ‘yon. So those things are the causes of contamination, even in other countries,” he said.
Starting August 1, law enforcers will start apprehending motorcycle riders carrying passengers without protective barriers and imposing fines ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP10,000.
