The city government here on Monday started to allow back-riding on tricycles with the easing of the community quarantine restrictions.

In an interview on Monday, Mayor Julier Resuello said the decision of the city government is based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) permitting additional passengers on vehicles.

He said tricycle drivers and operators and passengers should still abide by the safety protocols to prevent the transmission of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“Tricycle drivers in the city of San Carlos can have one back-ride provided that there is a plastic division between the driver and the passenger and that they must be wearing face masks and face shields,” he said.

Resuello said he already talked to various Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) in the city and underscored only one passenger is allowed inside the sidecar.

“When we conducted dialogues with different TODAs, I made it clear that there should be a maximum of three individuals in the tricycle, which means one in the sidecar, one back-ride, and the driver,” he added.

Aside from public tricycles, private ones should also adhere to the measure to avoid penalty.

Resuello said the city government is concerned with the tricycle drivers as their livelihood has also been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and thus, they need to recover.

Meanwhile, a passenger will be charged PHP10 based on the existing minimum tricycle fare in the city.

“The minimum fare will vary depending on if the driver and the passenger agree to either give additional fee as a consideration,” he added. (PNA)