LTO: New rules for motorcycles and scooters

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Regional Director Ed Cataronga yesterday gave me a copy of LTO Administrative Order no. 2008-013 on the “Rules and Regulations for the Use and Operation of Motorcycles on Highways” which is quite interesting for me because I’m a Big Biker. These regulations are for all two-wheeled bikes.

Section VIII states, “Motorcycle and scooter Accessories: Motorcycles or scooters shall be equipped with required accessories such as headlight, tail light, signal light, brake light, side mirror and horn. The driver/rider shall anytime of the day switch on the headlight of the motorcycle or scooter while it is being operated on the highway. He shall dim the headlight or lower the beam whenever the motorcycle or scooter is being operated on well-lighted streets within the limits of cities, municipalities and thickly populated barrios or districts.”

Turning on your headlights even during daylight is a safety feature that was adopted in many western countries more than ten years ago. It is only now that finally, the Philippines have adopted this safety measure. All motorcycles, whether a big bike or a small scooter have to have their headlights switched on even during daytime.

On Section XI: Wearing of flip-flops (tinsels) or slippers is now prohibited. This is another safety feature that I have always wanted to see adopted by the LTO. And finally on the proper use of a safety helmet, Section VII says “Wearing of Standard Helmet. It shall be the duty of the motorcycle or scooter driver/rider to ensure that he/she and the back rider wear standard helmets.” By this it means DTI approved helmets.

Has the DTI cracked down on stores selling motorcycle accessories that sell to unsuspecting buyers unauthorized or non-DTI approved helmets? If so, perhaps the Cebu Chamber of Commerce Industry should look into this? These stores selling accessories should not be allowed to sell such helmets that give only a false sense of security for our bike riders. It also means that using a construction hardhat, a soldier’s helmet or even a bicycle helmet isn’t acceptable for use in motorcycles/scooters. So if you get apprehended on these deficiencies, don’t say that you didn’t know about it.

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The once prestigious Philippine Senate which used to investigative hearings on the so many scams and scandals has now turned on itself. Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson accused Senate President Manuel “Manny” Villar of corruption in inserting P200 million in the 2008 National Budget for the same road. Of course Sen. Manny Villar denies the allegation, saying that this was actually two flyover projects on the same road. Whether this is true or not, we lesser mortals in Metro Cebu could not even have two flyovers constructed within our metropolis. That alone shows some kind of irregularity.

When Sen. Ping Lacson accused the Senate President during his privilege speech last Tuesday, the least that the Senate President should have done was step down from his chair so he could answer the charges hurled against him. But that didn’t happen. Instead he hid under some kind of Senate rule that displeased Sen. Lacson who then walked out of the hall.

Should the Senate investigate itself? They should task an independent body to do the investigating otherwise, this case of corruption might be turned into a political issue. Already the allies of Sen. Villar have taken turns lashing at Sen. Lacson, including his protégé Sen. Alan Cayetano who is now siding with Sen. Villar. With most of the contenders vying for the 2010 Presidential elections coming from the Senate, I doubt if we can expect these Senators to come up with new laws in the remaining years of the Arroyo Administration unless this issue is resolved soon.

After we booted out a corrupt conjugal Marcos Dictatorship 20 years ago, its seems that corruption scandals are no longer exclusive to the Executive Branch in the government. It is also plaguing the Judiciary and now the Legislative Branch as well. In hindsight, at least during the Marcos years, it was only one group that was accused of corruption. Today everyone is on the take. The biggest surprise of all is that, the Filipino people have become so indifferent about this issue, they no longer care to march into the streets in protest of the corruption swirling in all the levels of government. Indeed, the Filipino people are a very tolerant lot. But there is a breaking point somewhere. I’m afraid when it breaks, it just could become bloody!