Mr. President, with the indulgence of the good gentleman from Cavite, Senator Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, I would like to be made Co-Sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2555 under Committee Report No. 191, entitled An Act Amending Republic Act No. 11235, Otherwise Known as the ‘Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act’.
Under the guidance of the good sponsor, this measure aims to address the issues raised by many motorcycle riders since Republic Act No.11235 was passed last July 23, 2018. the bill gives more flexibility by allowing the registration of motorcycles not only by the owner but also by the dealer upon authority of the owner.
The penalties imposed in the original law are excessive are not at par with the fines imposed against car owners having the same violation. The current fines imposed can go as much as P100,000, which is already the amount of one unit of motorcycle.
It is an established fact that motorcycles are a popular form of transportation in our country, especially in places where public transportation options are limited. The rise of delivery and motorcycle apps has also meant that more people bought motorcycles to help them earn a living.
In fact, motorcycle riders are tapped by the Tourism Promotions Board, together the Department of Tourism (DOT), as domestic tourism ambassadors to help promote fun and diverse experiences, as well as advocate safe, responsible, and sustainable tourism.
Through this bill, Mr. President, we will ensure that fines are not excessive and that motorcycle riders would not be heavily burdened on the regulations being implemented.
We laud the sponsor for the speedy, yet thorough action on this important measure.
Maraming salamat, Mr. President.