Friday, September 30, 2011
I'll be on DZME 1530KHz on October 7!!!
MRO and MAP will be live on Motorsiklo Exclusibo on October 7, 2011 @1:30PM to discuss the ongoing issues of questionable ordinances such as the Open Muffler fiasco and the banning of helmets in provinces... Set your calendars folks! Spread the word!!!
My visit to Malacanang...
Bad news:
I was rescheduled.
I did see my contact and showed her my paper and my collected evidence. I got very important feedback which will help in the delivery of our position against this ordinance.
We lack proper show cause. We need more copies of tickets and more pictures. A single ticket can be considered as a mere isolated case and the pictures can only show so much.
We need:
More copies of tickets
More pictures of enforcers grouped together and apprehending small motorcycles
More pictures of enforcers who break the very law that they implementing
Pictures showing that only small bikes are being flagged down
This will help us get a solid reaction from the people we meet to help with our cause.
I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE!
If you want to make this happen and an action be taken, I NEED YOUR HELP!
Without it, I might be better off just throwing dirt in my face.
The good news:
I can return and show what I have collected given that YOU HELP ME.
I was rescheduled.
I did see my contact and showed her my paper and my collected evidence. I got very important feedback which will help in the delivery of our position against this ordinance.
We lack proper show cause. We need more copies of tickets and more pictures. A single ticket can be considered as a mere isolated case and the pictures can only show so much.
We need:
More copies of tickets
More pictures of enforcers grouped together and apprehending small motorcycles
More pictures of enforcers who break the very law that they implementing
Pictures showing that only small bikes are being flagged down
This will help us get a solid reaction from the people we meet to help with our cause.
I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE!
If you want to make this happen and an action be taken, I NEED YOUR HELP!
Without it, I might be better off just throwing dirt in my face.
The good news:
I can return and show what I have collected given that YOU HELP ME.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Another open letter addressed to all Media and Government Agencies
To all Media, News and Government Agencies,
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 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 public. 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.
Our group was somewhat responsible in going against the laws made by the LTO against motorcycles and it's riders back in 2008. AO AHS-2008-015 was suspended after we had raised our concerns on how the raw law promoted corruption and unfair apprehensions on the streets because of a very subjective basis in implementing the law. We came up with a document that was coursed through then Sec. Analie Lontoc from the DOTC which the LTO used as a basis to suspend the AO.
After this, we continued on fighting for motorcycle riders rights all over the country by providing legal advise to riders who felt that they were wrongly apprehended. From the then defunct loud pipe ordinance and operations in Makati, Laguna, Bulacan and other cities to the no-helmet ordinances in certain communities and the banning of motorcycles on some national roads and highways.
Recently, Pasig had released an ordinance stating that motor-vehicles without mufflers or working mufflers were to be apprehended. However, the law has taken a leap towards something else. The absence or presence of a muffler or working muffler is what the ordinance speaks about. In spite that, the enforcement of Pasig City has started apprehending motorcycles based on the sound and size of the tips of the mufflers instead. In all honesty, I do not mind that they start regulating the noise emitted by vehicles. In fact, I applaud this effort. However, the way it is being implemented is wrong. They have been apprehending based on sound and the opening of the mufflers without any standard and process in it's measurement to determine if it violates any regulation. Everything is basically done subjectively which is wrong. To make matters worse, they have been apprehending motorcycles only. And to rub salt in the already bleeding wound, they are targeting small underbones and scooters only. This is evident in the signage that they have posted everywhere.
Based on Philippine laws and procedures in creating an ordinance, they should be made to clearly explain the process in determining if a vehicle is in violation of a regulation. However, it is quite evident that Pasig City is not using anything of that matter at all. It is all up to the enforcer to decide on his own if one motorcycle is loud or not. But that is not the case here. The ordinance as stated, only speaks about the absence or presence of a muffler that can cause "unusual" sound. How is that unusual sound measured? What is used to measure it? What is the standard?
The implementation and the ordinance itself violates the very foundation that governs the country and it's law makers. First by being selective and discriminatory against small bikes. Second by being subjective in determining whether one violates the ordinance or not. And third by the way it is taken against the end user when it is publicly sold in the market. Other violations include the lack of an IRR to guide the implementation of the ordinance, the application of the ordinance on national roads and highways among others.
We have gone through several avenues in trying to ask Pasig City to have a dialogue with us so we can fix this issue and we have even offered to help them fix the ordinance by making it more comprehensive and with a proper standard that follows a process. Sad to say, that we have fallen unto deaf ears and the unjust apprehension continues on as we speak.
It has gone so bad that enforcers along C5 and Marcos Highway have been so overly aggressive in focusing on catching the riders that they put both riders and themselves at risk by jumping at them from the island, stopping them in the middle of moving traffic and sometimes even grabbing a rider which can cause them to crash.
To make treatment of motorcyclists much worse, Iloilo has recently announced that the use of full face helmets is to be banned in their region. Based on scientific studies and research, full face helmets offer the best protection for riders. Asking the riders to lessen that amount of protection is beyond us and preposterous to say the least. Just because they have issues in curbing the crime rate doesn't give them the right to sacrifice life and limb of the riding public. Again, they swore to protect us and not lead us into more danger. They tell us that we should comply with standards and protect ourselves and all of a sudden, they ask us to make such sacrifice because they cannot fix their problems. The same is being done in Cebu, Vigan and other provinces where they even ban helmets all together.
Our group was somewhat responsible in going against the laws made by the LTO against motorcycles and it's riders back in 2008. AO AHS-2008-015 was suspended after we had raised our concerns on how the raw law promoted corruption and unfair apprehensions on the streets because of a very subjective basis in implementing the law. We came up with a document that was coursed through then Sec. Analie Lontoc from the DOTC which the LTO used as a basis to suspend the AO.
After this, we continued on fighting for motorcycle riders rights all over the country by providing legal advise to riders who felt that they were wrongly apprehended. From the then defunct loud pipe ordinance and operations in Makati, Laguna, Bulacan and other cities to the no-helmet ordinances in certain communities and the banning of motorcycles on some national roads and highways.
Recently, Pasig had released an ordinance stating that motor-vehicles without mufflers or working mufflers were to be apprehended. However, the law has taken a leap towards something else. The absence or presence of a muffler or working muffler is what the ordinance speaks about. In spite that, the enforcement of Pasig City has started apprehending motorcycles based on the sound and size of the tips of the mufflers instead. In all honesty, I do not mind that they start regulating the noise emitted by vehicles. In fact, I applaud this effort. However, the way it is being implemented is wrong. They have been apprehending based on sound and the opening of the mufflers without any standard and process in it's measurement to determine if it violates any regulation. Everything is basically done subjectively which is wrong. To make matters worse, they have been apprehending motorcycles only. And to rub salt in the already bleeding wound, they are targeting small underbones and scooters only. This is evident in the signage that they have posted everywhere.
Based on Philippine laws and procedures in creating an ordinance, they should be made to clearly explain the process in determining if a vehicle is in violation of a regulation. However, it is quite evident that Pasig City is not using anything of that matter at all. It is all up to the enforcer to decide on his own if one motorcycle is loud or not. But that is not the case here. The ordinance as stated, only speaks about the absence or presence of a muffler that can cause "unusual" sound. How is that unusual sound measured? What is used to measure it? What is the standard?
The implementation and the ordinance itself violates the very foundation that governs the country and it's law makers. First by being selective and discriminatory against small bikes. Second by being subjective in determining whether one violates the ordinance or not. And third by the way it is taken against the end user when it is publicly sold in the market. Other violations include the lack of an IRR to guide the implementation of the ordinance, the application of the ordinance on national roads and highways among others.
We have gone through several avenues in trying to ask Pasig City to have a dialogue with us so we can fix this issue and we have even offered to help them fix the ordinance by making it more comprehensive and with a proper standard that follows a process. Sad to say, that we have fallen unto deaf ears and the unjust apprehension continues on as we speak.
It has gone so bad that enforcers along C5 and Marcos Highway have been so overly aggressive in focusing on catching the riders that they put both riders and themselves at risk by jumping at them from the island, stopping them in the middle of moving traffic and sometimes even grabbing a rider which can cause them to crash.
To make treatment of motorcyclists much worse, Iloilo has recently announced that the use of full face helmets is to be banned in their region. Based on scientific studies and research, full face helmets offer the best protection for riders. Asking the riders to lessen that amount of protection is beyond us and preposterous to say the least. Just because they have issues in curbing the crime rate doesn't give them the right to sacrifice life and limb of the riding public. Again, they swore to protect us and not lead us into more danger. They tell us that we should comply with standards and protect ourselves and all of a sudden, they ask us to make such sacrifice because they cannot fix their problems. The same is being done in Cebu, Vigan and other provinces where they even ban helmets all together.
This has got to stop and the government needs to know that such
shortcuts and wrongful apprehensions are only making the people mad and
uneasy about their process or lack of it. And the only way we can get
ourselves heard by anybody is to take it to 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 the need for somebody in the motorcycling community be part in the law making process so that we get a fair chance in representing ourselves. Just because they cannot fix the problems surrounding motorcyclists means that they have the right to fix what is wrong with another mistake.
Best regards,
Jobert Christian G. Bolanos
We need and we ask you to help us be heard. With all these issues coming out, it is evident that the need for somebody in the motorcycling community be part in the law making process so that we get a fair chance in representing ourselves. Just because they cannot fix the problems surrounding motorcyclists means that they have the right to fix what is wrong with another mistake.
Best regards,
Jobert Christian G. Bolanos
Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines
0921-775-4388
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
LTO supports the banning of full face helmets in IloIlo... Are you #@$%#@ crazy?!?
My last blog spoke about the banning of full face helmets in Iloilo when I came accross this:
Paggamit sang half helmet, suportado sang LTO
Thursday, 15 September 2011 15:47
ILOILO CITY - Suportado sang Land Transportation Office (LTO) ang ginaduso nga pag-require sang mga naga-motorsiklo nga maggamit sang half helmet sa baylo nga full face helmet.
Ini may kaangtanan sa pagluntad sang asud-asod nga krimen sa syudad sang Iloilo kon sa diin kalabanan sa mga suspek ang wala ma-identify bangod natago sang helmet ang ila nawong.
Suno kay Dir. Gerard Camiña sang LTO Region VI, ang full face helmet ginarekomendar lamang sa nagagamit sang all-terrain vehicle (ATV) ukon para sa racing.
Magluwas sini, wala man gina-require sa laye ang paggamit sang full face helmet sa mga naga-motorsiklo kag sa baylo, nasaad nga kinahanglan lamang sang standard protective motorcycle helmet.
Dugang pa sang director nga kon wala sang malain nga tinutuyo ang tawo nga nagamaneho sang motorsiklo sa highway, wala sang rason nga kinahanglan gid maggamit sang full face helmet.
Are they out of their freaking minds?
We need to do something about this.
I call on all riders who have contacts in the Government who can set MRO/MAP up for a dialogue. This has got to stop. We need people who understand riding and it's implications in creating laws like this to protect us from being trampled on.
Please help us get in.
Full Face Helmets to be banned in IloIlo... WTH?!?!?!
Somebody is playing KIA again. This time, in the province of IloIlo.
I mean WTH is wrong with our lawmakers?!?
The main purpose, according to them, is to ID all riders and help lessen crime.
I say, you do not pass the burden of safety, life and limb, freedom of choice to the people that pay for their salaries. You do not pass on the shortcomings of your enforcement and policing to the people. It is as if you are giving the accountability of your incompetence to those who you swore to protect.
What is the country coming into?
Let's just say, knock on wood, that a rider meets an accident and because of the stupid law, is wearing a half or quarter or open face helmet and smashes his chin on the ground? Will the government shoulder his recovery and reconstruction of the jaw of this person who could have just worn a full face helmet and walk away with just bruises and a broken ego?
What about those who just spent their hard earned money to buy a good quality full face motorcycle helmet? Will they reimburse them?
I don't think so.
According to the Bill of Rights in the Philippine Constitution:
Somebody file a case against this lawmaker who put this burden on the innocent for their incompetence in curbing crime and lawlessness.
We should be watching out for who we vote for in the future.
(KIA - Know It All)
I mean WTH is wrong with our lawmakers?!?
The main purpose, according to them, is to ID all riders and help lessen crime.
I say, you do not pass the burden of safety, life and limb, freedom of choice to the people that pay for their salaries. You do not pass on the shortcomings of your enforcement and policing to the people. It is as if you are giving the accountability of your incompetence to those who you swore to protect.
What is the country coming into?
Let's just say, knock on wood, that a rider meets an accident and because of the stupid law, is wearing a half or quarter or open face helmet and smashes his chin on the ground? Will the government shoulder his recovery and reconstruction of the jaw of this person who could have just worn a full face helmet and walk away with just bruises and a broken ego?
What about those who just spent their hard earned money to buy a good quality full face motorcycle helmet? Will they reimburse them?
I don't think so.
According to the Bill of Rights in the Philippine Constitution:
No ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.
Somebody file a case against this lawmaker who put this burden on the innocent for their incompetence in curbing crime and lawlessness.
We should be watching out for who we vote for in the future.
(KIA - Know It All)
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Forum and Facebook topics: I hate motorcyclists!
To each is his own... People, from both sides, hate each others driving/riding habits...
These are the things the we all love to hate, but in reality, they speak the truth somewhat...
In one of the talks I have done, I spoke about the millions of riders out there which grows by the minute...
In the millions, we, in the community of MCP are but a measly .5 - 1% of the entire population...
Within the .5 - 1%, only 25% of that knows the basic laws...
And of that 25%, only 5% really understand them...
And of those who understand them, only half or maybe less really follow the rules of the streets...
Sad yet true...
We see them daily, everywhere and on any type of vehicle...
Enforcement, instead of making sure that everybody is following the rules, sometimes encourage us to break them by letting vehicles counterflow, go even if the light is red, stop even if the light is green and what not... Then they say were un disciplined...
These are the things the we all love to hate, but in reality, they speak the truth somewhat...
In one of the talks I have done, I spoke about the millions of riders out there which grows by the minute...
In the millions, we, in the community of MCP are but a measly .5 - 1% of the entire population...
Within the .5 - 1%, only 25% of that knows the basic laws...
And of that 25%, only 5% really understand them...
And of those who understand them, only half or maybe less really follow the rules of the streets...
Sad yet true...
We see them daily, everywhere and on any type of vehicle...
Enforcement, instead of making sure that everybody is following the rules, sometimes encourage us to break them by letting vehicles counterflow, go even if the light is red, stop even if the light is green and what not... Then they say were un disciplined...
The providers of our licenses and registration, do not check whether an individual is fit to ride/drive or if the vehicle is road worthy...
And in these discussions and forums, the irony and the hypocrisy is just abundant...
I don't feel surprised nor do I feel bad when these discussions come out... Because, it speaks the truth...
Sometimes people ask us (MRO and MAP) on why we even waste our time in perusing our advocacy... I simply say, somewhere, someone still needs help and is willing to do the right thing... If not us, then who?
Good day fellow riders...
And in these discussions and forums, the irony and the hypocrisy is just abundant...
I don't feel surprised nor do I feel bad when these discussions come out... Because, it speaks the truth...
Sometimes people ask us (MRO and MAP) on why we even waste our time in perusing our advocacy... I simply say, somewhere, someone still needs help and is willing to do the right thing... If not us, then who?
Good day fellow riders...
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Featuring: A comment on one of my blog posts...
Here is the comment:
Tis' what most people say... You can't please everybody...
I did reply to him in two separate posts:
I hope people read before posting... We hate to see them shoot themselves in the foot...
Anonymous said...
Tiga san ka ba jobert? tiga pasig ka ba? diba tiga marikina ka? anong paki mo sa ordinance ng pasig? kung eto gusto ng mga tiga pasig, respetuhin mo na lang gaya ng pag respeto namin sa mga ordinance ng marikina na mas malupit pa sa pasig pero wala namang nagrereklamo kasi para naman sa nakakarami. dapat lang naman hulihin yang mga pasaway na motor na yan may pa open-pipe open-pipe pang nalalaman, kala mo naman nakakadagdag sa bilis eh makupad pa rin yan kahit sumisigaw na yang makinang inang yan. panget na nga pakinggan, panget pa ang ugali sa pagrespeto sa ordinance. ewan ko na lang kung pati itsura eh, well alam mo na. - K
September 17, 2011 11:22 AM
Tis' what most people say... You can't please everybody...
I did reply to him in two separate posts:
Anonymous,
Sir, I am not from Pasig but does that matter? I pass through Pasig daily. So does other people.
Ang pinagkaiba ng ordinansa ng Marikina sa Ordinansa ng Pasig ay ang tamang implementasyon nito.
Nag babasa ka ba sir? Obviously, hinde. Wala tayong problema sa ordinansa at ang purpose ng ordinansang ito. Gusto din ng nakakarami ang tahimik na syudad. Pero ano ba katotohanan?
Tatahimik nga ba kung motor, lalo na yung maliliit lang ang papansinin? Ano to? Double standard?
Mawalang gana po pero mukhang di kayo nag isip muna o nag basa man lang bago kayo nag post dito.
Ang batas ay ginagawa ng patas at para sa lahat. Hindi ito ginagawa para man discriminate o mamili lang ng huhulihin. Hindi mo naitatama ang isang mali sa isa pang pag kakamali.
Natutuwa ako at nag post ka dito. Panakita mo lang ang pag ka kitid ng pag iisip mo.
Maraming salamat!
September 17, 2011 11:37 AM
You don't have to be from Pasig to state irregularities and wrongful implementation of the law. Pasig City has already declared that on Mayor Eusebio's page.
People pass through Pasig daily and the fact of the matter is, most of the reported apprehensions happen when people are not going into Pasig rather, those who are only passing by the outskirts of the City to get to another destination.
Then selective pa ang pag huhuli. Kung gusto nyong gawin illegal ang maingay, gawin nyo munang legal ang ordinansa nyo.
Walang standard, Walang panukat, Pinipili ang hinuhuli. Dyan pa lang, kitang kita na ang kakulangan ng ordinansang ito. Ngi walang public dissemination sa isang publication.
Ikaw taga Pasig ka ba? Nuff said.
September 17, 2011 11:45 AM
I hope people read before posting... We hate to see them shoot themselves in the foot...
Pasig City acts on wrongful application and apprehensions for half baked ordinance
Our viral movement has worked!!!
From Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bobby-Eusebio/250077511157
I have already answered back asking for an official statement on all Pio PasigCity's posts:
We ask Pasig City to bring this back to the table and let us help them in making a better and "correct" law if they want their city to be "less noisy".
And hopefully, we can be part of this development to show our support for making better laws that govern our vehicle users.
From Facebook:
Pio PasigCity Thanks for being open about what you feel regarding the "Open Muffler" ordinance. Rest assured that our Mayor is acting on your issues/complaints. Kami rin po ay lumapit sa pamunuan ng ating TPMO para ma-inform sila sa inyong hinaing. Hindi po tinotolerate ng ating alakalde ang maling pamamaraan ng pang huli. Lahat din ng TPMO or any government officials/employees na mayroon open muffler ay pinatatakpan na. We will keep you updated on the issue.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bobby-Eusebio/250077511157
I have already answered back asking for an official statement on all Pio PasigCity's posts:
Jobert Bolanos Pio PasigCity, We are asking for your office to issue an official statement that we can pass on to our fellow riders... There are still apprehensions happening up to this day... We need something to show these abusive enforcers that what they are implementing is wrong... Thank you!Also, I have made another statement on my own Wall asking for support. The battle has only begun. The war has yet to be finished.
Your support for better and fair governance is needed... We cannot allow our LGU's to make shortcuts when we pay for their salaries... Making a law is one thing, doing it wrong is another... You simply cannot correct one mistake with another...
We ask Pasig City to bring this back to the table and let us help them in making a better and "correct" law if they want their city to be "less noisy".
And hopefully, we can be part of this development to show our support for making better laws that govern our vehicle users.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
An open letter to Pasig City
 |
| If the law does not apply to all, it shouldn't apply at all... |
Greetings!
My name is Jobert Bolanos, Chairman of Motorcycle Rights Organization and President of Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines. I would like to seek help in a brewing issue surrounding the apprehension of motorcycles in your City.
A few weeks ago, a few riders have sent word to the community that Pasig City enforcement had started apprehending motorcyclists for loud exhaust systems. I applaud the city for taking such measures to enforce the nation's laws that govern all vehicles however, there has been several things that are amiss or has not been explained properly.
I have been in contact with several people and offices of the DOTC to see if there has been anything written on the standards of the sound levels for all vehicles. And as far as my information gathered, there is still no definite law on this or it is still in the works as of this writing. Which brings me to the question of the said ordinance being implemented in Pasig City.
Here are a few of the things that I would like to clarify:
1. Has there been a public hearing for the ordinance that apprehends loud exhaust systems?
2. When and where was this ordinance published for public dissemination?
3. Was there a study made on what the standard is? What is the set standard?
4. How is the standard, if any, being measured?
5. Has all enforcement been trained for this?
6. Where is the procedure or Implementing Rules and Regulations for the ordinance?
As it seems, the ordinance as implemented and being carried out by your enforcers has been specifically targeted to apprehend motorcycles users only. And to be more specific, small motorcycle or underbone/scooter users only while the other bikes with higher displacements are being ignored. And what is more intriguing is other vehicles such as Jeeps, cars, vans, suv's, trucks and buses who have the same problem are also being ignored. As far as the ordinance is concerned, isn't it supposed to apply to every vehicle that passes through your city?
I was also provided a copy of the said ordinance by your Barangay Affairs Office (bao@pasigcity.gov.ph) and nothing in the said ordinance or any law in that matter has any Implementing Rules and Regulations on "Noise Contolling Devices" unlike the "Clean Air Act" which has it's own. Not even a hint or a simple description on what separates an open pipe to an aftermarket or performance muffler.
This creates a very vague picture of the law and is prone to subjective apprehensions. Each enforcer interprets the law in such a way that he does not even know the difference between an aftermarket pipe and open pipe.
And needless to say, how can you prohibit something that is openly sold in the market and punish the end users unnecessarily? If something readily available to the consumers are being sold is outlawed, should we take this off the market first before we regulate the end users? And should all vehicles be included as we see this not only on Motorcycles but on other vehicles as well?
I write this to clear out the issue and to prevent the community from escalating this issue any further.
If there is anything that our two organizations can do to assist the city in clearing out this ordinance or perhaps, making it more understandable and acceptable to the riding public, please do not hesitate in reaching us.
If it is also possible that we request for an audience to be able to talk to your principals so that we can discuss this matter.
Thank you and more power!
Jobert Bolanos
Motorcycle Rights Organization
Motorcycle Advocates of the Philippines
mro@motorcyclephilippines.com
+63921-775-4388