Rep. Teodoro Clarifies MC Banning Issues

Lawmakers seek motorbike ban on highways
Thursday, January 3, 2008

Two lawmakers have filed a bill at the House of Representatives seeking to ban motorcycles on main thoroughfares and national highways.

Reps. Narciso Santiago of the Alliance for Rural Concerns and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina said House Bill 3080 aims to prevent road accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles.

Citing a World Health Organization report, Santiago said in many Asian countries including the Philippines, road accidents are usually caused by motorcycles.

“Nearly 1.2 million persons die of road traffic accidents every year, 40 percent of which are under 25 years old,” he said.

Santiago said young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries.

Among the accident reports cited by WHO, speeding, non-use of helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk driving were contributing factors to the rising trend of traffic accidents, he added.

Teodoro said an Asian Development Bank report on road safety in the Philippines showed that motorcyclists were the “second most at risk” of being killed or injured in a road accident.

“At present, motorcycles are a growing concern as its number increased to 40 percent per year in the last three years,” he revealed.

Records from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed that motorcycles have the highest fatality accident rate with 122 motorcycles or 23.6 percent of the total fatal accidents. – Delon Porcalla

…. A few days ago this was the news that shocked the motorcycle riding community even the people involved in the business of motorcycles.

January 3, 2007 about the same day that this newspaper article came out, the camp of congressman Marci Teodoro was looking for the directors of Motorcycle Philippines federation (MCPF) to clarify this issue that was pointed against him. He met up with Jojo Medina, the Director for Operations of MCPF thru the arrangement of Roland Tantay, club president of club 613 of Marikina also a consultant of the congressman. Together with Allan Capendit of Asac Riders, Mike Balanquit of Fortune riders, Boyet Inlong of Mamu riders and Benedict Trinidad of dink riders all members of the Marikina motorcycle Riders Federation

Congressman Teodoro clarified to Director Jojo Medina that he was not the author of the bill in fact he is pro motorcyclist. His letter to Director Jojo Medina read like this:

Jan. 3, 2007,

Dear Mr. Medina,

I wish to clarify my position on the issue of banning motorcycles from national roads and highways. I was informed by Mr. Ronald Tantay of Club 613 that a news item stated that I am supporting such a proposal. I must state in the clearest terms that the news item must have been mistaken. I do not intend to ban motorcycles on national roads and highways because I recognize the right of our motorcycle riders to travel on our roads and highways.

In fact, I proposed a bill which, if passed, will make national roads and highways safer for motorcycle and bicycle riders. HB 3145, or the segregated Cycle Lanes Act of 2007, will be beneficial for our motorcycle riders because the bill provides for separate or segregated lanes and facilities on all roads and highways throughout the country. The bill was filed on November 22, 2007 and was subsequently considered on first reading on November 28. I attached with this letter a copy of the bill for your perusal and guidance.

In brief, the bill seeks to:

Not simply recognize the right fo our motorcycle and bicycle riders but also concretize this right by making motorcycle and bicycle lanes a requirement in every road plan and construction
Provide motorcycle riders full access to the entire road network of the country; and
Most importantly, ensure the safety of motorcycle riders on our national roads

And highways so as to minimize accidents and lessen the risk on their safety.

Clearly, it is my intention to protect the rights of motorcycle riders and not ban them from the use of our roads and highways. If only to further confirm my support for motorcycle riders, I also attached here the House journal recording my authorship of HB 3145 and it’s consideration by the committee.

I am aware that motorcycles are an indispensable mode of transportation in the country and I seek to promote the welfare of motorcycle riders the country and I seek to promote the welfare of motorcycle riders through the passage of HB 3145. Additionaly, I solicit your support for this bill so that it can be improved further. We can sit together for a discussion on this bill as well as on the other concerns of our motorcycle riders. Perhaps your sector, through it’s representatives, can take part in the forthcoming deliberations and committee hearings for this bill.

Thank you very much, I remain

Marcelino Teodoro

Both Congressman and Director Jojo Medina shook hands and promised to work together for the betterment of motorcycle riders.

Also connected with the issue…

During the meeting Congressman Teodoro phoned Congressman Narciso Santiago the author of the House Bill 3080 that seeks to ban motorcycles on major highways. Congressman Teodoro asked Congressman Narciso to back down on his bill and just support the bill that he will file with the support of MCPF for the safety of the riders. Congressman Santiago immediately agreed to back down on his proposal since his prime objective is also for the safety of motorcycle riders…

Both Congressman Teodoro and MCPF Director Jojo Medina thanked Congressman Santiago for his support and cooperation..

3 Responses to “Rep. Teodoro Clarifies MC Banning Issues”

1. killswitch.roadtalk | January 4th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Motorcyclists are a formidable group and will even be stronger in the next three to five years. Politicians will quickly recognize that motorcyclists and are a true political force that cannot be brushed aside, in the same way as some local politicians in Manila and Makati are doing.

It is appreciated that representatives Santiago and Teodoro quickly listened to the voice of the riders led by Motorcycle Philippines.

Moreover, the gentleman from Marikina, Representative Teodoro is actually well known for his support of the riding community. His direct clarification and intervention in protection of the rights of riders (motorcyclists and bicyclists) is also well appreciated.
2. rsmithh | January 6th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Let’s hope that this issue has gone away. Just for the record and future reference, here is my !!! point plan for anybody who really cares about bikers’ welfare:-

- National task force to urgently fix within 48 hours holes in the road which can be fatal to motorcyclists.
- Removal from shops of chinese plastic crash helmets
- Insistence that all police motorcyclists wear helmets to set a positive example
- Strict penalties for “stealth” jeepneys that like to drive without headlights
- Automatic disqualification for drivers who jump red lights

That should keep the legislators busy

Shiny side up
3. ayamumang | January 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
That was an astute political move of cong Teodoro. For a while there I thought he was the same one who proposed that only half-face or no helmets should be allowed in Marikina.

If we follow the short-sighted and brainless logic of cong Santiago, perhaps we should also ban SUVs from the main thorougfares - reason?-well uh, hmmn. . well . . they are so big and shiny that they block the direct line of sight in traffic. . .

Oh well, cong Santiago should better stick to his rural concerns - like say lowering the cost of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides and banning the importation of rice because we have enough rice. ask the DA staff not the chiefs who make a lot of money from the cartels..

There are more motorcycle accidents because there are more motorcycles. The fact that a large percentage of those involved in motorcycle accidents are below 25 is due to new or half-baked motorcycle riders who should not have beeen issued licenses by the LTO in the first place.