Motorcycle Act of 2015; Cebu City government to tweak its implementation

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government will still implement the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015, but will probably do some tweaking.

Assistant Deputy Mayor on Education Councilor Augustus “Joy” Young called the said legislation as anti-poor for it does not consider the real situation of the marginalized individuals.

“I think kini siya, while nakasabot ko sa author ani sa intention sa safety sa mga bata, I think this is anti-poor nga balaod.  Wala man gi-consider gud nga ang mga taw diri pobre, magmotor gyud,” he told reporters yesterday.

Earlier, Mayor Tomas Osmeña also expressed his disagreement to this law, since children might be inconvenienced in going to school.

"I'm not in favor of that because many children can't go to school anymore. Of course, the intention is there – the safety of the kids.  But I think there's a bigger danger when our kids can't go to school anymore.  Is that the way our government is? Mao kani ang sitwasyon nga gikan sa ibabaw ba, they don’t have their feet on the ground, labi na sa kabukiran. Do you expect the children there to walk to school?” he added.

Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7 Regional Director Alita Pulga said her office is definitely implementing the law, despite Osmeña’s opposition.

“That is the mayor's comment and we respect it.  I also have the same concern, but the law is there, so we have to implement and enforce it for general public safety,” said Pulga.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Noli Taliño will support whatever the request of the lead transportation agencies on the implementation of the said law.

"Kung ano man ang ire-request sa atin, we will fully support them. Depende sa request nila, hindi natin alam kung within the city, or within the province or within the region.  So, antayin natin yung request, sa ngayon wala pa kaming usapan, kapag may request na i-utilize na namin," Talino said.

Young said he will meet up with concerned offices such as the Department of Education, Cebu City Transportation Office, Cebu City Police Office and Association of Barangay Councils to discuss on the possible measures with the implementation of the law next week.

Young said the possible measures of the city is to set up a specific time of the day wherein motorcycles are allowed to transport the children to and from school and by putting up a “corridor” wherein the motorcycles are allowed to pass.

“Butangan og time limit ba.  Kung tingklase Monday to Friday mosulod ang mga bata by 6 a.m to 8 a.m so in ana nga time allowed ang motorcycles nga maghatod sa mga bata.  Ang mga bata dili na pwede magsakay- sakay ana beyond that time.  Inig hapon 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., unya sa night 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. napud.  Dili striktohon kaayo nato, magsabot lang ta ana,” he said.

Young emphasized that the measures they would implement must be in line with law, since they don't want to violate the legislation that was formulated for the safety of the children.

He is hopeful that the mitigating action plan can be finalized before the opening of classes, so that it would not affect the children who use motorcycles as their mode of transportation in going to school.

In the law, only children whose feet can reach the foot peg, could wrap their arms around the driver's waist and wears protective gears are allowed to ride the motorcycle.

Violators will be slapped with a fine of P3, 000 for the first offense; P5, 000 for the second offense; and P10, 000 and suspension of driver's license for one month for the third offense. The driver's license will already be revoked for the subsequent infraction.

Pulga, however, said that a local government unit (LGU) may recommend to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as to the possibility of opening routes for public utility vehicles in those areas.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said that the Omnibus Franchise Guidelines will be released by the end of the month wherein LGUs can formulate their own Local Transport Route Plans (LTRP), which is a requirement for the lifting of the moratorium on franchise issuance.

Cuizon said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will also release the manual to guide LGUs about their LTRP. The LTRP will then be submitted to DOTr for approval.

The submitted LTRP will be reviewed by the DOTr to ensure that this conforms with the standards stipulated under the Transport Modernization Program.

“But maybe mga next year pa ni magsugod ang LTRP,” said Cuizon.

Since 2003, LTFRB has a moratorium in the franchise issuance for buses, mini-buses, taxis and jeepneys. (FREEMAN)