Last years 2W event came with many challenges, support issues, groups blatantly displaying disrespect, attacks from others who sought to derail the spirit of what DARS, DOTC and it's partners wanted to give to the riders of the country...
So let me give out a little history lesson as to how MRO became a participant in this event...
Sometime last year, MRO has been making noise especially when it comes to the rights of the riders... We went to places that suggested ordinances aimed at branding riders as criminals, pushing onto our shoulders, the burden of our enforcement's shortcomings... And in this path, we collaborated with several groups that we strongly believed that would help us into the path of equality and fair treatment... We also went against nationwide legislation that again, took it's toll on our constitutional rights and we did so maintaining a level of diplomacy that earned MRO the trust of MDPPA and other groups who has been in the forefront of activities that both empower and support the riders of our nation...
In this relationship, MDPPA sought to bring MRO with them in bigger projects... One such project is the FAMI Road Safety Symposium which we became guests of...
Prior to this, the Motorcycle Riders Course or MRC, headed by the only Filipino to ever earn the coveted Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors badge, Mr. Jake Swann, helped us get into projects like the Road Safety Board which was also a project of DOTC and Asec. Dante Lantin...
Our participation in both activities has given MRO the opportunity to step up to the plate and be part of yet, another major project for DOTC... And this was the 2W Relay project of 2012...
Before this, MRO was branded as an activist group because of the noise that we make each time bad legislation is created and pushed down our throats... But with perseverance and integrity on how we do things, they slowly realized that we do not block traffic when we go out on the street because we only do motorcades and not rallies like what others keep saying, we do not use harsh or degrading words or statements against the departments we try to reach out to and we don't throw accusations and statements that has no proof or backing... That we do whatever it takes to exhaust as much effort as we can, but we do not close our doors on the possibility that we MARCH OUT and bring our fight to the streets ONLY WHEN PUSHED TOO FAR...
We pushed and we pushed and we pushed and WE GOT PUSHED OURSELVES... Earning small victories and being pushed back with losses as we go along... Yet, we stood our ground and just kept on pushing...
So here we are, post event from last year's 2W relay and the BILOG event...
I can still feel the joy and the proud moment when I saw everybody braving the heat and pounding their fists as we united under one banner and Called to Action, towards Unity, Safety and EQUALITY...
So allow me to tell you about MRO's role in the project...
MRO was called in initially to be a contributor/participant by helping DOTC come up with the plan for the project... And on the first couple of meetings, it was a market place of ideas... Later on, MRO became the program developer and we laid out the plan, platform, route, schedule, program and we helped in drafting the wish list, letters to other agencies and so forth... Thanks to the ideas shared by the other groups and Asec Lantin himself, we found the best solution that we could launch in such a short amount of time...
And throughout the event, MRO was hard at work with coordination, planning and sadly, a whole lot of DAMAGE CONTROL... However, when the event on November 18 unfolded, all of that was laid to rest and the hardships, joys, intrigues, acknowledgements, pain, happiness, regrets, camaraderie among other things became so much worth it... And this is not because of what we did... Rather, it was because of what ALL RIDERS DID TOGETHER...
This year, DOTC has called upon MRO again to be on the batting plate and to create the layout for this years 2W program... We have decided on three things...
1. We will work with the program only if, those who have been involved in the "CONTINGENCY FUND" scandal is asked to excuse themselves out of the program...
2. That we follow the program by the letter and allow full and total TRANSPARENCY within the group and to the public as to what is happening and what is going to happen...
3. No private group, organization, club name or logo shall be put on any of the BILLING, POSTERS, BANNERS, FLYERS, TARPS, GIVEAWAYS, STICKERS as we shall only be acknowledged as PARTICIPANTS in the project...
Albeit being the group responsible for the program's development, schedule, route planning, coordination with other riders from the different areas that this years program will pass through and the initial drafter of letters and requests to DOTC's partner agencies, we will be more than happy to take our name out of the program materials... Why, BECAUSE AS WE SAID LAST YEAR, AND WE SAY IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, THIS IS FOR THE RIDERS AND NOT FOR US...
So unless somebody can come up with a better plan for the riders benefit, we hold ourselves to that commitment...
However, We are also adamant in keeping to this promise that if any of the three conditions above are set aside because one or several groups don't approve, then MRO will gladly relieve itself of the program and let them handle everything...
And in spite of already giving out the initial project route and plan, we will gladly give that up as our contribution to the project as we made a promise to be in the service of the riders and not ourselves... That our promise and commitment was first made for the community and not ourselves... That we intend to work for the project given that, we are to provide JUST AND FAIR perks and royalties for the MAIN program participants, including the suppliers, sub contractors, sponsors, donors and logistics team who is as crucial as the MAIN participants AND NOBODY ELSE...
THAT ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PART OF THE PROGRAM SHALL BE GIVEN A FAIR AND EQUAL CHANCE TO BE INVOLVED... AND THAT IS OUR ASSURANCE TO ALL OF YOU FROM MRO OR WE WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS YEARS 2W RUN...
That is our solemn promise and that will all be decided on Tuesday's meeting with DOTC and the other participants of this year's program...
And with that said, we wish to thank DOTC, most especially Asec Lantin for giving us the opportunity, LTO, LTFRB, DEPED, REDCROSS, PNP, DPWH, TOLLWAY GROUPS, MDPPA, MDAP, A4, MX and all the rest for working with us last year and who is still there for this year...
Thank you and a good day to all...
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