QC mayor to review plate number vest ordinance

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista will review an ordinance requiring motorcycle riders in the city to wear vests printed with the plate number of their motorcycles. 

“We will have it reviewed by the city legal department upon receipt of the copy of the measure,” Bautista said in a text message to The STAR.

City administrator Aldrin Cuña said the city council – which passed the measure on third and final reading last week – has yet to transmit a copy of the ordinance to the mayor’s office.

Hundreds of motorcycle riders yesterday staged a protest urging Bautista to veto the ordinance.

The revised charter of Quezon City, as amended by Republic Act 5441, said an approved ordinance shall be deemed approved if the mayor fails to return it to the city council with his approval or veto within 10 days upon receipt of the transmittal.

Second district Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, principal author of the measure, earlier expressed hope that Bautista will approve the measure.

Under the ordinance, the city will only require vests for motorcycle riders with passengers and not for a lone bike rider.

Ludovica said this compromise was reached with bike riders who attended the public hearing.

Once enacted, bike riders will be required to have vests showing the plate numbers of their motorcycles. The size of each letter or number will have to be six inches in height and one inch in width.

Motorcycle-riding criminal elements  have been blamed for robbery, kidnapping, carjacking, assassination and other crimes in the city.

The council said displaying the plate number of motorcycles will help the police and other law enforcers in identifying the driver and its passenger.

It added that non-wearing of the prescribed vest with the plate number will promptly call the attention of the police and the public.

“There is a need to thwart the nefarious activities of motorcycle-riding criminals to protect the citizens and to ensure public safety and order,” read the ordinance.

The city council passed the ordinance following a shooting rampage in Fairview last May that left four people dead.

Violators will face fines of P1,000 to P5,000.

The mayor’s office is tasked to issue the implementing rules and regulations of the measure. A 60-day phasing period will be implemented once the ordinance takes effect.