Angkas and other motorcycle-taxi passengers, rejoice: the controversial and arguably ineffective back-riding shields have finally been ditched as a requirement when riding motorcycle taxis, as social and public transportation restrictions continue to loosen.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) lifted the mandatory back-shield requirement as Metro Manila enters Alert Level 1, the lowest restriction level, motorcycle taxi service Angkas announced.
“Goodbye, you little shit,” the popular service wrote in its signature brand of humor.
Passengers will also no longer be required to bring their own helmets.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOTr required back-riding shields for motorcycle taxi drivers, practically a piece of acrylic that a driver wears on their back as some sort of barrier between them and a passenger, a decision that met its fair share of criticism. Lawmakers such as Ralph Recto and Risa Hontiveros previously questioned the efficacy of motorcycle barriers.
READ: Not really sitting together? PH gov’t OKs compact motorcycle shield against COVID-19
