DAVAO CITY – Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito believes that the signing of Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act by President Duterte will be an advantage for motorcycle riders.
Ejercito said this might address the discrimination on the part of motorcycle riders since they are complaining of being singled out especially during the conduct of checkpoints.
The senator, who is a rider, said the license plate in the front which is stated in the law will now prevent a rider to be flagged down, harassed, and shaken down in checkpoints.
“This might be a blessing in disguise with the technology being pushed by the Land Transportation Office,” he said.
He said LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante has assured that they will be using radio frequency ID stickers for the front license plates and not stainless or aluminum metals which is dangerous to motorcycle riders.
Ejercito said the LTO are now on the process of procuring radio frequency ID scanners that will be used in verifying the records of every registered vehicle. “Pag scan lang sa checkpoint, go na agad, di na kailangan pang i-shakedown,” he said.
The senator is hoping that this explanation will calm the motorcycle riders who are very concerned that the proposed dual plates might be unsafe.
He said the motorcycle riders should not also worry about the P50,000 fine as of the moment since it is stated in the law that there will be no apprehensions while there is no command center.
Ejercito said the law is not yet final since the LTO is still in the process of crafting of the implementing rules and regulations.
Motorcycle Riding Organization chair Joebert Bolaños said he is hoping that all being promised will be implemented in favor of motorcycle riders.
Bolaños said he knows the good intention of the law but the government must consult the stakeholders first before passing a law.
He claimed that their sector was not consulted during the crafting of the law in the House of Representatives and Senate which they thought as unconstitutional.
Bolaños said his group is hoping to be part of the crafting of IRR to enable the government to know the issues of the motorcycle riders. (Junar Fenequito)
