Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Bike firms lobby for more safety laws By Edmund B. Sestoso
THE Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) is now closely linking and lobbying with the House of Representatives and the Senate for stricter laws on safe driving throughout the country.
Joseph Sison, MDPPA president, said this when interviewed during a break in the three-day Motorcycle Roadshow that ended in November 18.
He said that in most of their talks with congressmen and senators, the legislators agreed with some points raised by the association.
Sison said in the same interview they would not in any way tolerate motorcycles being turned into "habal-habal" as a mode of transportation especially in the countryside.
He said manufacturers make motorcycles for only one or two persons, the driver and his passenger.
"Doing things with a motorcycle unit which is not advised by the manufacturer and the company" is dangerous and will even cost the life of a rider.
The members of the group are Honda, Kawasaki, Norkis Yamaha, Suzuki, Motorstar and MCX.
Sison further stressed they are not encouraging teenagers to remove some parts of their motorcycles and use them in drag races.
The MDPPA president pointed out that the basic parts put in a motorcycle has definite and specific functions.
"If one is removed, then there is already an imbalance in the motorcycle," Sison emphasized.
He said that removing some mirrors and lights is dangerous because these are the most basic parts of the motorcycle.
He pointed out that most accidents in motorcycle driving are either due to ignorance or abuse of the unit.
He said the road show is an initial positive step in their safe driving campaign.
They are also coordinating with some traffic and safety officers at the national level for a continued discussion on further enhancing the safety of motorcycle users in the country.
Aside from lobbying with legislators, Sison said they are now also planning the holding of the Motorcycle Safety Driving Convention. It will be held in Dumaguete City, considered the motorcycle capital of the Philippines.
