JV Ejercito: Amendments to 'doble plaka' law a hard-fought win for motorcycle-riding community
At A Glance
- Sen. JV Ejercito said the new law is about fairness and common sense, saying it ensures public safety "but not at the expense of innocent riders."
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday, May 15 welcomed the signing into law of the bill that removes the controversial front metal plate requirement for motorcycles.
Ejercito is referring to Republic Act No. 12209, an amended version of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act (RA 11235), also known as the “Doble Plaka Law, which has finally been signed into law.
“(It’s) a hard-fought win for our motorcycle-riding community, and a promise I made that is now fulfilled,” said Ejercito, principal author of the newly-enacted law.
“With this new law, wala na ang dobleng plaka (there is no more double plate) requirement na hindi naman praktikal at delikado pa para sa ilang motor (which is impractical and risky for some motorcycles),” he added.
“This new law is about fairness and common sense. Masisiguro pa rin ang seguridad ng publiko, pero hindi sa kapinsalaan ng mga inosenteng rider (Public safety can still be ensured, but not at the expense of innocent riders),” he said.
The removal of the front metal plate on motorcycles was among Ejercito’s key campaign promises during the 2022 senatorial elections.
Instead of the front metal plate, the senator pushed for the implementation of improved registration and identification systems in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other agencies.
The new law is also expected to resolve the long-standing issue regarding delays in the issuance of motorcycle plate number.
“This law will help solve the more than 10 million plate number backlog,” he said.
“Eh hindi na nga ma-supply ang plate numbers, dodoblehin pa sana ng front plate requirement (The plate numbers can no longer be supplied, and the front plate requirement would have been doubled),” he pointed out.