By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 1,500 riders from 120 Negros Occidental motorcycle clubs gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday morning to protest the “double plate” provision in the recently-signed RA 11235, otherwise known as the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2019.

Event organizer Kingston Tecson, a member of the Rouser Club of the Philippines-Negros chapter, said the unity ride was done simultaneously with other motorcycle clubs across the country also conducting their own protests.

He said, aside from the double plates issue, citing it as a “safety concern,” they are also protesting the “unfair penalties” of the new law, wherein violators are required to pay a fine between P20,000 and 50,000.

“The fines alone are unfair,” Tecson said. “The reason why we are using motorcycles is because it is more economical for us.”

The motorcycle enthusiast said they have been against the new law since 2017, when it was introduced as a bill in the senate.

The House of Representatives went on to pass a similar bill that amended several provisions, but the group claimed the senate bill’s lead proponent, Senator Richard Gordon, rejected the amendments and pushed for the senate bill.

He further stated, Gordon did not call the attention of motorcycle clubs, manufacturers, and part suppliers in order to conduct a senate hearing before passing it on final reading.

Besides the new law, Tecson said the unity ride was also conducted in order to protest the growing discrimination against motorcyclists.

Under the new law, motorcycles are now required to have bigger license plates, which should be placed on the front and rear of the vehicle. Senator JV Ejercito led a senate hearing last week to hear from motorcyclists and he is currently considering filing an amendment to lower the penalties, as well as the possibility of using decals or radio-frequency identification stickers to replace metal plates./DGB, WDJ