Controversial ‘Plakavest’ ordinance in QC vetoed

Motorcycle riders need not wear a vest showing their vehicle’s license plate after Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista struck down the proposed “Plakavest” ordinance. LEO M. SABANGAN II

MANILA, Philippines–The controversial “Plakavest”—a proposed ordinance that will require tandem-riding motorcyclists in Quezon City to wear vests showing their vehicle’s license plate—has been vetoed by Mayor Herbert Bautista for being “sweeping” and “unwieldy.”

“I have decided, based on the recommendation of the city legal office, to veto this particular ordinance. But we are giving the city council and all other stakeholders one month to come up with a comprehensive motorcycle-riding ordinance in Quezon City,” Bautista said during a press conference at city hall on Monday.

Explaining his action, the mayor observed that the proposed plakavest ordinance—approved by the city council last month—was “sweeping” and “unwieldy” and may expose the city government to “further liabilities and damages.”

According to Bautista who cited an observation made by the city council’s committee on laws, rules and internal government, the ordinance “does not appear to be a rational way of identifying riders with criminal intent… A criminal would never wear a vest registered under his name in committing a crime but will resort to using a replica or a stolen vest, prejudicing the safety and security of the rightful owners.”

He urged the city council to consider a barangay (village)-level inventory and registration of motorcycles and the designation of motorcycle routes to eliminate criminals who use the two-wheelers in their illegal activities.

Bautista pushed for an ordinance regulating the use of motorcycles in the city, taking into account the various suggestions and alternatives received by the city government at the height of debates on the plakavest ordinance, including regulations on the secondhand sale of bikes and limiting bike riders based on the vehicle’s load capacity.

“Hopefully, by the end of September, we can sign [a motorcycle-riding] ordinance that [comprehensively covers] safety, environment, health and security which we can all benefit from,” he said.

As he announced that he was vetoing the proposed ordinance, the anti-“plakavest” advocates, mostly from the Quezon City Motorcycle Riders Federation, broke into applause. But Bautista cautioned them against celebrating when he said: “But volunteers can still wear their vests. Who knows? Maybe after putting together this [comprehensive] ordinance, you would still need to wear the vest.”