PASAY, Philippines – Angkas joined thousands of motorcycle riders in a Unity Ride to protest against discrimination and the double big plates law.
The motorcycle riders gathered early Sunday at the People Power Monument, rode to North Edsa, then proceeded to Pasay City.
The riders denounced the passage of Republic Act 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act of 2017, that mandates motorcycle riders to have bigger plates at the front and rear of their bikes.
READ: Duterte signs law requiring bigger color-coded license plates for motorcycles
George Royeca, Angkas head of regulatory and public affairs, said Angkas was against RA 11235.
“This it is not an Angkas issue, but an issue of all riders. Kami ay sumusuporta sa riding community to push for safety,” Royeca said.
Angkas is a motorcycle ride-hailing app in the country that has been under the watch of the government since the high court ordered it in December to stop its operations.
READ: SC temporarily stops Angkas operations
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board immediately started to apprehend Angkas drivers operating on the road the following day.
READ: LTFRB says traffic enforcers can start apprehending Angkas drivers
According to Royeca, the government has been discriminating against motorcycles in the country.
He said “loopholes” in the act allowed local government units to have different interpretations of the law.
“Motorcycles have always been discriminated on, lagi nilang ginagawang cash cow. Itong mga discrepancy sa law na ito, may plaka, maliit na plaka, malaki na plaka, sa daan pagtitripan lang yung driver, pagtitripan lang ang biker,” Royeca added.
The law requires motorcycle riders to have new plates and that it should be big enough to be read from at least 15 meters away.
However, motorcycle groups said the size of motorcycles vary and the law would not be applicable to all.
Royeca also claimed that out of 14 million motorcycle riders in the country, only seven million were registered with the Land Transportation Office which has yet to issue millions of license plates.
“We will fight for our rights. We will not be discriminated upon. And we have the right to have a dignified livelihood and to be on the road just as much as everyone else,” Royeca said.
“Putting a large metal plate in front is a ridiculous and stupid idea and should not be a law,” he added.
Among the rider’s groups that participated in the Unity Ride were Road Guardians of the Philippines, KRG, Cavite Eagle Riders, Motorcycle Rights Organization, Bull Riders Club Philippines, Arangkada Riders Alliance, Philippine Advocates Road Safety, and Bulacan Motorcycle Rider Federation. /cbb
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