Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 20) – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will begin strict enforcement on Aug. 1 of its new policy to slap motorcycle riders with a ₱500 fine if caught sheltering under footbridges and flyovers to avoid bad weather.
The move is seen to reduce road obstructions and improve the safety of riders, MMDA said on Thursday.
“May mga lay-bys naman tayo. Tsaka yun naman yung sinasabi namin, ang patak naman ng ulan, hindi kaagad-agad,” MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes noted.
“Sinasabi din natin na hindi natin pinagbabawalan na sumilong para magbihis then umalis. Ang pinagbabawalan lang po natin ay gumitna sa lansangan at maghintay na humina yung ulan,” he added.
[Translation: There are lay-bys anyway and what we’re saying is that rain doesn’t start out of nowhere. We are also saying that we are not forbidding riders from stopping to put on rain gear then leave. We are only prohibiting them from stopping in the middle of the road to wait out heavy rains.]
The MMDA discussed its initiatives for riders with Grab, Angkas, Joyride, TokTok, Transportify, Maxim, and Move It.
“They were all supportive sa aming mga (of our) projects, especially sa motorcycle-riding namin (on motorcycle-riding),” the MMDA said.
Meanwhile, Artes said that gas stations were also open to helping riders affected by bad weather.
“Nag-manifest naman sila [gas station operators] ng openness and willingness to help na mag-provide ng tents sa mga station para po makapag-silungan ng saglit ang ating mga motorcycle riders at magbihis ng kanilang rain gears.”
[Translation: They manifested that they were open and willing to help provide tents so riders can stop for a bit and wear their rain gear.]
He added that gas firms were partially hesitant as hosting many riders could get in the way of their operations.
1-Rider Party-List Rep. Rodge Gutierrez earlier criticized the move to penalize riders as “inhumane” and “anti-poor.”
