Ejercito to push for decals or RFID instead of front plates for motorcycles

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito on Tuesday said he will push for the use of decals or RFID (radio frequency identification) on the front of motorcycles instead of a second license plate.

This came after Ejercito facilitated a dialogue between motorcycle riders, manufacturers, and representatives of the Land Transportation Group and the Philippine National Police's Highway Patrol Group that day.

Many motorcycle riders have been up in arms over Republic Act 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, saying that it imposes “doble plaka,” or metal plates both on the front and the rear of the bikes. The riders said this could be a serious threat to their safety.

“'Yung sa mga rider naintindihan ko 'yung kanilang galit. 'Yung safety talaga medyo mako-compromise kasi pwedeng matanggal 'yung plaka, lumipad, baka 'yun pa ang tumama sa iyo. So 'yun ang number one [priority], 'yung safety,” Ejercito, a rider himself, told reporters.

At the forum, which was attended by LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, and PNP-HPG Superintendent Darwin Paz, Ejercito also said he will push for the lowering of fines for violating the newly enacted law.

He also clarified that the law does not strictly mandate the use of metal plates.

“Ang maganda, si Asec. Galvante ng LTO, very open, in fact, mas gusto niya decals in lieu of metal plates. Either decal or RFID, which is even better para maging high-tech tayo,” he said.

“Siguro ‘yun ang magandang balita sa lahat ng riders, wala nang dobleng metal plates na mangyayari, sticker na lang at metal plate sa likod,” Ejercito added.

The senator said he prefers RFID as it only needs to be scanned to get the rider's details.

“So hopefully through this we will now pursue na 'yung LTO mag-RFID system na, na-iiscan na lang, verify na lahat hindi na kinakailangang bumaba, hindi na kinakailangan magkapkap, hahanapin 'yung mga OR-CR. So 'yun ang magandang development. Hopefully through this mabawasan na ang laging common complaint ng mga riders na sila ay hina-harass,” he said.

A technical working group should come up with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) first before the law can be implemented.

Ejercito also said he will propose an amendment easing the punishment for some violations specified in the law.

“I will ask Senator [Richard] Gordon, magpapaalam ako sa kanya na magfa-file ako ng amendments this coming May na medyo reasonable rates kasi mabigat ang P50,000, parang presyo na ng motor 'yan eh. At karamihan ng mga riders ay talagang ordinary employees. So mabigat para sa kanila 'yun,” he said. — BM, GMA News