PGMA orders review of ban on motorcycles on Luzon expressways

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The above was the headline on the front page of the Philippine government website immediately after directors of the Motorcycle Philippines Federation supported by hundreds of riders and leaders in the motorcycle industry met with the Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines at Malacañang Palace on September 21st 2005.

The following is the article from the Philippine government web site.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to review the ban on motorcycles below 400cc on the South and North Luzon expressways.

The President issued the directive to Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza during her meeting with members and officials of Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) and representatives of the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers at MalacaÀang�s Heroes Hall.

"The main job of Secretary Mendoza now is to review the ban on motorcycles on the tollways because this is your number one concern," the President said in her brief remarks after Frank Woolf, director for administration and publishing of the MCPF, made a power point presentation on the problems and concerns of motorcycle organizations.

She also asked Mendoza to study the proposals presented by the MCPF and compare existing motorcycle rules in the country with those of other countries "so that we will be comparable internationally."

In her remarks, the President told the MCPF that she is a supporter of the motorcycle community. In fact, when she was a senator she organized Karancho, a motorcycle association in Davao del Norte and Davao City

"And it became very big and had spread all over Mindanao and parts of the Visayas. So I do recognize the great service that cyclists, motorcyclists give to the community," she said.

On the issue of allowing motorcycles to use public utility bus lanes, the President encouraged all cities to create more motorcycle parking lanes, and the city councils to work with motorcyclists and the MCPF to stop criminals using motorcycles instead of penalizing innocent riders.

She also advised supporters of the proposal to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes to make their advocacy directly to the specific city or local government units (LGUs).

The President also thanked the MCPF officials and members for visiting her in MalacaÀang and for presenting to her their problems and proposals.

"I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be able to listen to your concerns. I hope that starting with the review of the tollways ban we can proceed to work together and make the motorcycle community a happy community in our society," she added.

Aside from Mendoza, DOTC Assistant Secretary Anneli Lontoc accompanied the officials and representatives of the motorcycle organizations, dealers and manufacturers to MalacaÀang.

Woolf assured the President that "the MCPF and its members would like to play their part in reducing gas consumption and traffic congestion, increasing public safety and tourism while developing long-term cooperation with the government."

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The following is copied from a post made in the MCPF forums by Tope Flores,our Director for Government Affairs.  It moved me so much I scrapped the text I had prepared and at the risk of making this page very long reproducde his post here.

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The truth is, we knew there were doubts about the meeting with PGMA. :-) There were some who said it was all for show. There were those who thought it was mere politicking. But all MCPF Directors believed that it was the biggest break that we ever had in promoting motorcycling and motorcycle rights. And I believed in the President. PGMA, during my term in office had always supported me, providing every request I made. Never did I leave the palace gates without something for my constituents. But most importantly, I knew we were going to go and talk to the biggest friend of our community. PGMA did not forsake us.

For the MCPF Directors, it was the chance of a lifetime. It was a chance to finally end years of struggle in the streets, boardrooms and courts to gain access for the small bikes into the expressways. It was an opportunity to finally end years of discrimination that put riders lives in danger because of laws, regulations and rules that though sometimes well meaning, were ill-concieved and born out of ignorance. It was a chance to finally end disputes and debates in the parking lots and other places where we, the bikers were treated as 3rd class citizens.

All this had to stop. Rather than go through the long arduous path of resolving issues piece by piece, the meeting with PGMA afforded our community a venue to present all our problems at once and with greater and faster results. The son of the President, Dato Arroyo has always been very supportive.

While the MCPF will not officially announce that the tollways ban on sub-400 bikes is finally over until the President or the DOTC finally says so, I know deep in my heart that the ban is virtually over. I sat beside PGMA and all throughout Sir Frank's presentation, she was reading the small TV monitor in front of her and asking me questions on who's at fault; What was wrong with government from our point of view; How to resolve the issues in the fastest and most efficacious way.

There's another insight that I would like to share which struck me only after the meeting. The President, by asking questions was showing humility and listening to what we were saying. To me, it was a humbling experience, here was the highest official of the land abandoning pretenses, acknowledging that on some issues, others may have a better solution. Humility indeed, is the true mark of the mighty.

Truth be said, after giving my answers on behalf of the community, I could not but feel a little concern for male vanity. There I was sitting beside the President, slouching to answer her questions and exchanging ideas. Terrible posture! Oh Jezz! I would really look terrible on TV! :-) Hehehe.

But no matter, we did win a victory and how! It was history in the making of the motorcycle community. The first ever meeting any President of the Philippines with the motorcycle community. It was symbolism in motion. At last, here was government recognition of the motorcycle community.

The government recognition through PGMA's dialogue with us marked the formal and official arrival of the MCPF. It signified MCPF's ascendance as THE FEDERATION. The voice of the motorcycle community.

For the great presentation, Kudos Sir Frank, and for bringing in our allies, the MDAP, PAMIA and the Koreans, Hats off to you pareng Jojo Medina. But most of all, I know that the credit must go to all MCPF riders. To all,and every rider of the MCPF. Without your faith, without your support, no matter what the national directorate does, it will be of no value.

To all of you, ang magigiting na motorsiklista ng MCPF, MABUHAY! Sa inyo ang kapanalunang ito dahil sa inyong maigting na pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan.

Sa muli, ang mainit at taos pusong pasasalamat ng pambansang direktoryo ng MCPF. Mabuhay ang motorsiklistang Pilipino!

Mabuhay ang MCPF!

One Passion, One Vision, One People!
Tope Flores
Director for Government Affairs and Southern Luzon

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After all that I can only say a huge thank you to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  There were times when I thought I was spending many hours preparing a presentation to the President and she would not see it. When we setting up the projectors at the palace the palace staff told me to just go ahead and the President would join us later.  I said it was very important to us that she attends the presentation and quickly got word that she agreed and would be there.

Thank you to all the people who worked for years to bring us to this point. Thank you to my co-directors in the MCPF and thank you to all the members whose support made it all possible.

At the meeting were a number of VIPs from governments and industry. Many of which promised support to the MCPF.  The office of the president also followed up early the next day asking for more information and a number high level government people have since met with MCPF directors.

The following is a partial list of those who attended:

Motorcycle Philippines Directors
Frank Woolf, Jojo Medina, Cristopher Flores, Jake Swann, Atoy Sta Cruz, King Dayrit
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza
LTO Undersecretary Lontok
Robert Rivera, Office of the Malacanang press secretary.

Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office
Embassy of the Republic Of China – Philippines
Li Shaobo – Secretary General

General Lee Sang Han, National Defense Youth Committee Chairman – Korea

Jesse Cruz, Vice Mayor of Mandaluyong & President of the Vice Mayors Association of the Philippines.
Edwin Go, President of the Motorcycle Dealers Association of the Philippines
Rev Dr. Jeon Dae Gu, Director for Korean Affairs the Bantay Turista Foundation.

Philippine Association of Motorcycle Importers & Assemblers (PAMIA), Inc.
President - Enrique Y. Co
Vice President Internal - Eric Lee
Vice President External - Heng Dong T. Lim
Treasurer - Eusebio Mosqueda
and members of the Board of Directors

The Safety Organization of the Philippines (SOFI)

Motorcycle Philippines
Byk101
Scooterista Magazine
and all the local TV stations and newspapers