Motorcycle endurance rides should be banned if violations continue –senators

Several senators on Monday said endurance motorcycle events should be prohibited if they continue to result in road crash incidents and traffic violations.

In a hearing of the Committee on Tourism, Senator Raffy Tulfo said that while he acknowledges how these events help in promoting domestic tourism, the lives of riders and pedestrians should not be put at stake during the activity. 

Lawmakers recalled the motorcycle endurance challenge organized by BMW Owners Society of Saferiders, Inc. (BOSS) in several parts of Mindanao, which resulted in several accidents and traffic violations. 

“Reckless, stupid, tadtad ng violations. Endurance ride lang daw, pero obvious na ginagawang karera,” Tulfo said. 

(It’s reckless, stupid, and full of violations. They say it's just an endurance ride, but it's obviously a race.) 

“In the first place, this should not be a race. Our public roads are shared spaces not meant to satisfy one’s own adrenaline rush. Magpayabangan kayo ng motorsiklo at ng galing sa pagpatakbo na hindi kayo nakakaabala ng tao (show off your motorcycle and your driving skills without bothering other people.) If the goal is to stage an endurance race, then do it in a contained environment,” he added. 

According to Land Transportation Office (LTO) Executive Director Martin Ontog, the agency has already issued show cause orders to the erring BOSS Ironman challenge participants. 

BOSS President Henry Tolentino, meanwhile, said they coordinated with the LTO and Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), and secured mayor’s permits where they put pitstops or checkpoints. 

PNP-HPG deputy director for administration Police Colonel Glenn Mayam affirmed the coordinator informed them before the conduct of the event. 

He, however, said that reports claiming a child was killed in one of the accidents has yet to be verified. 

Tulfo further questioned why the BOSS Ironman event was still allowed to proceed, despite a congressional hearing on the same issue in 2024. 

He said he would oppose the continuation of the event unless the organizers implement mechanisms to ensure future rides are safe.

“Kung hindi natin maipatupad ang mga stricter guidelines na ito (if we cannot implement stricter guidelines,) we should stop and ban this activity,” the senator said. 

“This is stupidity. Totoo ‘to. It has to be stopped or kung ayaw niyong ipa-stop, gumawa kayo ng paraan na sumunod kayo sa batas trapiko. Hindi kayo above the law. Dapat walang namamatay,” he added. 

(This is stupidity. It's true. It has to be stopped or if you don't want it to be stopped, find a way to obey the traffic law. You are not above the law. No one should die because of this.)

Committee chairman Senator JV Ejercito echoed Tulfo’s stance. 

“Kung ipagpapatuloy, kailangan zero fatality na. Pero kung hindi man, hindi mapapangako, then I agree with Senator Tulfo, kailangan na talaga itigil ‘to. Hindi tayo dapat maging perwisyo,” Ejercito said. 

(If it continues, there must be zero fatality. But if not, if it cannot be promised, then I agree with Senator Tulfo, we should really stop this. We must not be a nuisance to others.) —RF, GMA Integrated News