Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jobert Christian G. Bolanos. I am the current chairman of a group called the Motorcycle Rights Organization and president of the Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines. In reality though, I am just another road user. In the years that our community of motorcyclists have grown, the need for better and more regulations have been sought. This is fine except for the way it is being forced into the riding public’s throats. Allow me to be the first to admit that this growth caused so many problems on the streets in terms of accidents, crime and responsible driving/riding. And the way that motorcyclists are being painted is somewhat unfair for those who try to make themselves better road users. In spite this, I still come to you as we are being profiled unfairly. With that said, we are coming to you with two major issues surrounding our community. The “Plaka-Vest” ordinance of Quezon City and the Joint Administrative Order of the LTO and DOTC. Both of which are putting the general riding public in a precarious position as we are being branded as possible criminals and violators even before we are investigated or inspected properly under the fair and just provisions of the law. Thus creating an atmosphere of subjectivity, unfair treatment and for a lack of a better term, discrimination. We have exhausted all efforts in trying to get the authors and implementors of the said issues to listen to our side while providing them with excerpts from the laws that guide the creation of new ones and proposals that will help in their mission to curb crime and instill more discipline on the streets. All of which have fallen into deaf ears. This has got to stop and the government needs to know that such shortcuts and anti-constitutional ordinances/laws are only making the people mad and uneasy about their PROCESS of creating such laws or the lack of it. And the only way we can get ourselves heard by anybody is to take it to the streets and with media. We are also citizens of this country and we need the same amount of fair treatment and equal protection from the laws. We cannot stand by and watch as these shortcuts and lack of process take us down like criminals when we are not. We cannot be treated as such when it is because of their shortcomings that has not helped in addressing the rise of crime and accidents on the streets. We need and we ask you to help us be heard. With all these issues coming out, it is evident that we are not getting a fair chance in representing ourselves. Just because they cannot fix the problems surrounding the use of motorcycles for crime and it’s involvement in road accidents means that they have the right to pass the burden of their shortcomings unto us. On July 20, 2014, the community will be uniting in a show of force where we shall be conducting a massive motorcade to show these lawmakers who are bent in pushing our backs to the wall that we will not take this sitting down. That the general riding public and all those affected by the new laws have the right to be heard and be protected from the laws and not regard them as criminals or violators without the proper due process. We would like to invite you for a symbolic ride that will take us around quezon city where a noise barrage will be done in-front of the LTO office in East avenue, a symbolic burning of a “plakavest” in front of the Quezon City Hall and a short press conference at the Quezon City Memorial Circle main stage on between the hours of 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning. We respectfully pray that you grant us the coverage and write-up that will help us get our message across. Best regards, Jobert Christian G. Bolanos MRO/MAP
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 23:58:22 +0000
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