Press Release
August 18, 2009

HELMET BILL SANS "STICKY" PROPOSAL BACKED

The proposal to put plate number stickers on motorcycle helmets as a provision in the Mandatory Helmet Bill of Senator Bong Revilla failed to gather support from motorcycle stakeholders and concerned government agencies.

In the consultative meeting yesterday (Monday, August 17) by the Senate Committee on Public Services, it was unanimously expressed that the proposal of Senator Richard Gordon to put a plate number, in the form of sticker, on helmets must be separated from Revilla's bill that would oblige all motorcycle riders, including back riders, to wear standard protective helmets.

Among those who attended the meeting and asserted that there should be a separated discussion on Gordon's proposal and Revilla's bill were representatives of the Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF), Philippine National Police (PNP), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Department of Health. They all agreed that road safety and security from crimes are different issues that should be addressed independently.

Motorcycle Philippines Federation Director Atoy Cruz reiterated their opposition to Gordon's proposal, pointing out that any paint, sticker, or any other aggressive materials could adversely affect the quality of the helmet.

PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Deputy Operations chief P/Supt. Jorge Penaflor and PNP-Tactical Management Group (TMG) chief P/Supt. Eliseo Malana Jr. believe that plate number sticker on helmets may help in arresting motorcycle-riding criminals, but it will not totally address the problem. They admitted that police visibility is the primary way to curb crimes.

For his part, Revilla stressed that the Mandatory Helmet Bill should be urgently passed considering the alarming rise of motorcycle accidents in the country. "This is long overdue. Marami nang mga aksidenteng kinakasangkutan ng motorsiklo. Kahit wala ngang batas, dapat kusang-loob na magsuot ng helmet ang mga nagmomotorsiklo dahil para ito sa kaligtasan nila. Kinakailangan pang gumawa na batas para maobliga ang lahat na mag-helmet," said Revilla, chairman of the Senate Commitee on Public Services.

Senator Gringo Honasan, who is a member of the committee and fellow motorcycle enthusiast of Revilla, requested the representatives of the PNP and MMDA to submit statistics regarding other details, aside from the disuse of helmets, on motorcycle accidents to help the lawmakers in seeking additional ways to address the problem. He also cited the urgency to pass the bill. "This is a very complicated bill that appears to be simple," he said.

Right after the consultative meeting, a Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting composed of the resource persons was conducted where Eddie Lao, a distributor of standard protective helmets, verified that helmet manufacturers indicate in their manuals and labels not to put adhesives in the helmets so that the warranty will be voided.

During the period of interpellations last week, Gordon insisted that his proposal should be attached to the Mandatory Helmet bill. He pointed out that there are criminals who use motorcycles in their illegal activity. "I respect Senator Gordon's opinion and I understand his reason that's why we conducted the consultative meeting. Now we heard the position of concerned agencies and groups on the matter. We must deal on the safety of motorcycle riders and security of non-motorcycle riders separately," Revilla said.

There are about 3.5 million motorcycles in the Philippines , comprising 45 percent of all registered vehicles in the country. Figures gathered by the Traffic Operations Center of the MMDA from January to December 2008 revealed that motorcycles have the highest fatality rate in road accidents with 106 motorcycles involved, or 28.19 percent of the total fatal accidents. "Studies showed helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcyclists. It is not only our million motorcycle riders who are aware of the danger of wearing no helmet, but also the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers. All we need is to institutionalize it, "Revilla said.

Under the Mandatory Helmet Bill, all motorcycle riders-the driver and the back rider-must wear standard protective helmets while driving motorcycles, whether long on or short drives, in any time of the day, in any type of road and highway. Exempted are drivers of tricycles. Violators shall be subject to confiscation of driver's license and/or a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred pesos (P1, 5000), but not exceeding ten thousand pesos (P10, 000).

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