Statement of Senator JV Ejercito on MMDA’s proposed regulation that will penalize motorcycle riders stopping underneath footbridges and underpasses during stormy weather
August 1, 2023
I urge the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to reconsider its proposal to prohibit motorcycle riders from seeking temporary shelter underneath footbridges and underpasses during turbulent weather.
As a motorcycle rider myself, I am very much aware of the harsh environment that riders are exposed to whenever they are in transit. Metro Manila is prone to both blistering heat and devastating storms. Moreover, with the easing of pandemic-related restrictions on mobility, air quality in this particular region has been deteriorating at a rapid pace. .
Prohibiting our riders from stopping underneath our footbridges and underpasses is discriminatory and anti-poor. The fact that this policy will be implemented in the middle of the rainy season adds insult to injury. In the first place, most riders only spend a short amount of time under our footbridges and underpasses in times of bad weather. Footbridges and underpasses are readily available along many of our major roads, giving our riders the opportunity to put on their raincoats and adjust their equipment.
When it comes to road safety, we should stop singling out motorcycle riders. Riding motorcycles is one of the most convenient and affordable means of getting around, especially in densely populated areas such as Metro Manila. Instead of introducing new prohibitions on motorcycle riders, let us pursue interventions that are compassionate, humane, and inclusive.
