Tricycle Drivers and Backriders

Like so many other places, Dumaguete has had difficulties during these days of the covid19 pandemic. As I write this, the entire province of Negros Oriental (where Dumaguete is the provincial capital) is currently under General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Many people are out of work as certain businesses are not allowed to open at full capacity.

Cafes and eateries are only allowed to serve customers with take-out or delivery. No dine-in under GCQ.

Two things involving transportation have upset the majority of people in the city. One is the "no backrider" policy. Under normal circumstances, it is quite common to see two people on a motorcycle - the driver, of course and a passenger sitting behind the driver. In some areas, this might be done for commercial purposes (known as "habal habal") but in most cases here, the backrider is often a family member of the driver on his/her way to work, or simply they're riding together because the family has only one motorcycle.

Now, the powers that be in Manila have banned the practice of backriding as a so-called public safety measure against the spread of covid19. Until recently, the Dumaguete authorities have turned a blind eye toward the practice by not enforcing the ban. A recent visit to Dumaguete by an official from outside the province has forced the provincial government to carry out the ban. Most of the people in Dumaguete object to the ban and can see the absurdity of not allowing couples that share a bed from sharing a motorcycle.

Without backriding, many are forced now to make use of the public tricycles. However, the same rule that bans backriding does not allow tricycles to carry more than one passenger at a time. Tricycle drivers basically live a hand to mouth existence here, and need to carry more than one passenger at a time in order to make any money at all.

Today, a city wide strike was called by tricycle drivers to protest the rule.

While driving to Dumaguete, I indeed saw fewer tricycles than normal. There were very few backriders as well.

Unfortunately, some drivers had no other choice than to break the strike and drive today. I also saw a few backriders while I sat outside the bank. There are some cases where the people simply have no other options.