MMDA: Frontliners not exempted from backriding ban

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday reminded frontliners that they are not exempted from the ban on backriding on motorcycles during the enhanced community quarantine. 

The MMDA made the statement after a motorcycle rider was issued an ordinance violation receipt (OVR) by a traffic enforcer for transporting a nurse to Quezon City from Bulacan.

In a post on Facebook, Michael Villanueva said he was pulled over by an MMDA traffic enforcer along Commonwealth Avenue on Friday for transporting his sister-in-law, who is a nurse, to a Quezon City hospital.

Villanueva said he was issued an OVR and fined P5,000 for violating social distancing measures. He was still allowed by the enforcer to take the nurse to the hospital.

Villanueva said he volunteered to take his sister-in-law to work because there were no shuttle buses taking frontliners at the time.

The MMDA denied there were no shuttle buses, adding that the two sped off after being issued the OVR without asking permission from the enforcer.

It was also Villanueva’s second offense for violating the social distancing measure, the MMDA said.

“We want to emphasize that backriding in Metro Manila during the enhanced community quarantine is prohibited. There are no exemptions to these guidelines, not even frontliners,” the MMDA said.

The agency said it would also look into reports of backriding MMDA traffic enforcers.