Bonnets, face mask banned in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines —  The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) is now apprehending those motorcycle drivers and back riders as well as tricycle drivers wearing full-faced helmets, face masks, and bonnets in Mandaue City.

For the motorcycle drivers, only motorcycle crash helmets with transparent or clear visors shall be allowed in the city.

Glenn Antigua, chief of operations of TEAM, said they are now apprehending motorists who will defy the city ordinance which was approved in November 2017.

"Okay na ang full-faced helmet kay mao may gi-require sa balaod. Ang gi-dili ra gyud nato is face mask, full-faced nga bonnet or face mask, or any garment nga mo-cover sa nawng," Antigua said.

"Ang prescribed ra gyud nga helmet is full-faced and half-faced approved by DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). Kahibaw na ta ana sauna pa. Gani sa LTO, nag-sige man panakop na. Siguro ang mga tawo nabag-ohan sad ana, dili naman na bag-o," he added.

The headgears that the city government prohibits are those Shang Yang helmets, bike helmets, nutshell helmets.  This also includes tinted helmets or tinted visors of helmets are also not allowed.

Antigua, however, clarified that there is no need for the motorcycle drivers to buy a new helmet because they can open their visors up by the time they will pass by the streets of Mandaue City.

"Pero wa man sa nag-ingon nga mag-ilis napud sila'g helmet. Kung muagi silag Mandaue isaka lang nila. Ang uban moingon mopalit. No need na," Antigua explained.

Antigua said this is to identify their faces considering that the city government has closed-circuit television (CCTV) units that have facial recognition settings which they currently tested.

This will also help address the peace and order concerns considering that there are a lot of reported incidents involving unknown motorcycle-riding gunmen wearing face masks, Antigua said.

"Mostly raba sa incident ang involved kay mag-mask," he added.

As to the health concerns, Antigua said this has already been addressed during a public consultation last year.

"Pero akong pangutana – how about kanang nagsakay og PUJ. May nang motorcycle ang abog molabay, ang kanang nag sakay sa PUJ ang abog magtuyok-tuyok sa sulod. So asa may health concern diha ron, ang naas PUJ or ang naa sa motorcycle? Mao sad na ang giingon ni Councilor Dabon nga 12 years old pa siya nagsakay og motorcycle but wa gyud siya kasuway nga mag-bonnet or mag-facemask until now," Antigua said.

Antigua said the penalty for those who will be caught using the unprescribed helmets will be P500.

According to the city ordinance, those who will violate and will be caught wearing bonnets, face masks, or any garment covering the face will face a penalty of P5,000. —/GAN (FREEMAN)