There has been a lot of speculation about what was going to happen today September 10, 2008. During the last meeting with the LTO last August it was decided that a Technical Working Group shall be convened a month from the said date to discuss the controversial parts of Administrative Order AHS-2008-015.
The meeting started out a bit late at around 8:45AM with the participants being asked to register before being seated in the Bulwagang Romeo Edu in the LTO Main Office in East Avenue, Quezon City. Ms. Daisy Jacobo, Chief of the Traffic Safety Division, LTO started the meeting by introducing Jake Swann of the MRC and MCPF. Jake then turned over the floor to MRO Chair and MAP Interim President Jobert Bolanos for a brief presentation of the community’s stand on the AO.
It was at this point that things began to turn rather odd. At the start of the presentation as Jobert mentioned that workgroups will be formed after the presentation, Ms. Jacobo suddenly interjected and said, rather sternly, that there will be no more workgroups and that we can continue on with the presentation and that we had the whole venue to ourselves till the afternoon, after which she promptly stormed out of the room. Jobert continued his presentation to the confused audience who were all wondering where the representative from the LTO was since this was a presentation that was designed for THEM.
As Jobert tried his best to continue his presentation, at around 9:15 AM, LTO Chief Roberto Suansing made a rather surprising and sudden appearance. I will not speculate as to who dragged him out of his office but it was a good thing because coming into the theater behind him was Ms. Jacobo herself.
After a few introductions, Asec. Suansing gave a short speech mostly about the general nature of the AO and expressed hope that we can resolve the issue by working with them. After that brief statement he turns over the floor to Ms. Jacobo again who introduces Senior Supt. Dennis Siervo, chief of the HPG National Capital Region Office.
Now I welcome the Supt. Siervo’s candor during his time on the rostrum but I honestly believe that he came out too stern and was berating us most of the time regarding how hard it is for them to implement and apprehend lawless elements. And take note, he used the moniker “motorcycle criminals” a bit too often to describe riders. Though a bit on the rough and unpolished side, I understand where Supt. Siervo is coming from. They are just following the letter of the law since they are enforcers. An audience with Supt. Siervo may be needed at a future time to discuss other matters but for today’s agenda he was, as a popular forum lingo goes, Off Topic.
After a 15 minute break Ms. Jacobo hurriedly went inside again and divided the group into 5 subgroups to discuss the Issues, Alternative Solutions and Governing Body. Any discussion about the presentation was shot down altogether saying that if we were going to have the presentation there was not going to be any Workshop. I honestly felt I was back in Grade School as the group of grown men and leaders of the MC community and industry were made to group themselves into 5’s and write on a big sheet of Manila Paper with Pentel Pens. Honestly, it was a bad bad Grade School flashback. It was at this time that I seriously doubted the sincerity of the LTO to produce solutions based on our recommendations.
After being given 25 minutes to formulate recommendations on a complex issue, each group was made to report, in front of the class, i mean group. The recommendations were mostly of the same nature. The most common stand being “Define modifications on a per item basis”. I was impressed with most of the reports given. It was clear that the community was pulling together on this one to really improve the situation for riders of all classes. Safety was the big battle cry from all. The plea was basically made in unison by all. But the plea fell mostly on deaf ears. Ms. Jacobo then collected all the sheets of Manila Paper and said that they will then be forwarded to a Technical Working Group for discussion. And I thought this was the technical working group.
During the Q&A that followed, Mr. Edwin Go of MDAP raised a very valid question regarding what will happen now that all the recommendations are being processed by the Technical Working Group. He mentioned that since the AO is under review it cannot possibly be enforced and if it isn’t enforced how will the different agencies be told about it since apprehensions and denials of registrations have been reported due to violations which use the AO as reference. He was me with a rather disappointing answer. Ms. Jacobo said that it is useless to throw accusations if you do not have facts or proof that the law enforcers have actually violated the law. Show us the proof she cries. It’s like answering a question with a question. After a few more questions answered roughly along the same line, Ms. Jacobo called a lunch break and served us lunch then proceeded to close the meeting and left the room as we were eating. Well I guess that ends that.
While the meeting was a good first step towards recognizing MC’s and maybe a small step to the creation of a National Agenda for Motorcycles, I was supremely disappointed at the LTO’s cavalier attitude towards the plight of the ordinary motorcycle rider. There is a total disconnect between what they formulate as law and what happens on the road. There is still some hope tough. The papers have been submitted, recommendations have been made. We have done what we could, legally, and all we can hope for is a fair shake at what is right and what is wrong.
Congratulations to all those who participated and helped, let us not give up hope for we are fighting the good fight.
Materials related to the Workshop will be made available to the public on this site, so watch out for it.
where ” Optimism ” with this LTO personel. it looks like this people are not open for a positive solution for MC Rider’s. Sir Jake , Sir Jobert kung ayaw nila ng magandang usapan,wala na magagawa kung di dalin natin ito sa RTC or Supreme Court, kung tama lang po.
hi Redwave,
much as we feel a bit disappointed at the outcome, we are very happy that the community has begun working with the manufacturers and dealers. This may become a springboard for future activities for all of us.
Sir’s I am with others waiting for a favorable response regarding this issue. Many of us modified underbone riders are worried every time we spot a check point a long our way. We know that we will be apprehended because of this LTO AO. I agree with them to increase the penalty of not having a DOT certified helmet and other safety gear but with the modification that does not endanger us underbone riders, I feel this is just another way for traffic official to extortion us. LTO should provide us information regarding the approved modification because I know that many of us still dont know what are the procedures for us to have the approval of DTI.
I think bluntly telling us that mods on our bikes are illegal is already a violation of our freedom. If they will not show us a proper technical guideline to which modification specs that are to be banned, i think that’s already a violation of our rights. damn they allow HID on 4 wheel vehicles that which we all jnow are a hazard to other drivers. Remember when they banned stainless jeepneys because their too flashy? why dont they apply it to cars? another thing, We bikers know our limits and safety. Although there are some ‘pasaway’ on the road but they cannot simply generalize all of us. From what I’ve heard from the news, thy said all mods shall not be allowed and everything should be stock. why apply that only to bikes? Why not cars? I think dondon’s right. it’s extortion… If ever there will be a movement, an ‘activity’ against this stupid order, pls post anything , All of us riders won’t let this injustice continue.
“motorcycle criminals—
Most “motorcycle criminals” involves running from an arresting officer or even bribery. Most serious crimes involves GUNS. Robbery, hold-ups, murders usually involves GUNS. They are “gun toting criminals”. They can ride bikes of course, but take it away and they can as easily ride cars, puvs or even run, Sherlock. Guns it seems are easier to get than bikes and cheaper.
I have a very modified 1992 model bike, in the past 16yrs tyre, brake and handling technolegy has moved forward.My bike is reflective of this in the modifications i have done.But am I to understand that i have broken a law by making my bike a better handling and braking machine ? ? ?
Beware! motorcycle riders sa EVACOM may 2 crocs jan nagaabang kala mo checkpoint yung pala kotong cops dahil hahanapan ka ng butas pra magkaroon ka na violation lalo na kung alam nila na dayo ka. I was victimized… It was sunday about 6:00 pm. Yung electronic horn sa motorbike bawal daw kasi wang wang daw yon. I just came from Sta Rosa laguna going to Bulacan which I passed 2 legitimate police checkpoint but no problem.
is it true? the LTO has a detb of 32M, and this is the cause of the sudden increase in the fines? hope they’re just rumors… don’t mind me. i was just wondering… kelan kaya lalabas ang result ng workshop? hope to have a positive result, ang taas kasi ng pamasahe…
“Motorcycle Criminals”????
Alam ba nila ung “Law Maker Criminals and Law Enforcer Criminals”???
Ano kaya ang feeling ng mga taga ahensyang ito na matitino naman. Ung nag bansag ng “motorcycle criminals” sa lahat ng MC riders is not worth of being a figure on that workshop, he doesnt know a thing about what he’s doing. Siguro political appointee lang sya kaya he’s a misfit on his job.
Alin ba ang mas salot??? Sila or Tayo???
Nakakainit talaga ng ulo. I wish some of these morons think what they are doing. They are not causing order, only havoc and rebellion.
Alam nyo mga taga LTO and law enforcers, we are using motorcycle para makatipid. Kasi, di kayang i-contol ng government ang presyo ng gas. Kung corrupt din sana kami, or pwede mangotong, or tumatanggap ng under the table, or mag fix ng mga rehistro at lisensya, di na sana kami mag momotor. Sarap ng nakaupo lang di ba. Kaso, kayo lang ang ganun, not us “motorcycle criminals” na nagmomodified lang ng rides namin.
Sana naman, unahin muna nila linisin ung corruption and irregularities sa agency nila bago nila tayo perwisyohin.
And dont forget u morons, we the tax payers are the ones na nagpapasweldo sa inyo.
Im not against road safety, ang gusto ko lang maging objective kayo, be reasonable, give penalty to violaters, pero i-define nyo mabuti ang implementing rules and regulatons and pag isipan nyo if nakakaganda ba or nakakaperwisyo ung ginagawa nyo.
Consider the human factor, economic effect, etc
Dont make your agency worthless or worst, perwisyo sa min. Magtrabaho kayo ng maayos and use your mind when making those laws.
korek!!! sugod mga kapatid….. sa dame ng pde nu ayusin, un n muna, smoke test na peke, drug test na peke, plate number na nasa helmet, nu p kaya susunod, violators hulihin ,law abiders wag idamay, lam ko na, require nu mga riders na mag install ng gprs tracking device para kahit nasa car wash huli nu he he,,,HAPIT ba…. ???? teka bakit puro motor, ung mga drag racers na naka set up d b kasali? … lagot kayo sa chappy ko pag inabot ko kayo, naka set up din un. teka meron b kayo buyer ng kmx hapit e, di tmx ha? kmx…
Uhh…guys, ung kasunod ng comment ko, naki post lang. wala pa kasi sya account dito. he he he