/ News

Bill requiring helmet registration for motorcycle riders deferred

This comes after a massive uproar from the motorcycle riding community

EJ Punsalang EJ Punsalang on Feb 15, 2021
Motorcycle helmets required in the Philippines

In September of 2019, Parañaque congressman, Eric Olivarez, filed House Bill 5136, which aims to require all motorcycle owners and/or riders to register their helmets with the Land Transportation Office, or LTO prior to acquiring a driver’s license. The proposed law stipulates that at least one helmet per motorcycle owned or driven must be registered with the LTO.

Naturally, with all this coming to surface just recently after passing through a string of approvals, the motorcycle-riding community did not take this well, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, and not to mention the increasing number of fees and requirements being slapped on riders and deemed as discriminatory. With numerous citizens taking to social media and calling Olivarez's new Bill as discriminatory, the congressman subsequently requested this bill be deferred. 

Related:
What is an authorized motorcycle helmet in the Philippines?

Following the massive backlash against the politician, Congressman Olivarez wrote on his social media page his intention to have the bill he authored deferred. “I asked the committee secretary to defer this proposed law.” he stated in a long post on his official Facebook page. The reason behind the crafting of this bill was apparently to reduce the threat of riding-in-tandem criminals. Similar to the highly controversial RA11235, or the Doble Plaka Law which requires large license plates front and rear in an attempt to curb riding-in-tandem crimes, which received similar, albeit even stronger backlash. 

Parañaque city is also home to yet another highly controversial regulation aimed at motorcycle riders. Late last year, a non-exclusive motorcycle lane was implemented wherein motorcycles are required to stay on the rightmost lane of the Dr. A. Santos Avenue, whilst jeepneys and private cars were seemingly allowed free passage to and from the motorcycle lane. Conversely, motorcycle riders who veered away from the motorcycle lanes were ticketed and fined. 

Tagged Under

Related Articles

Latest News