Ride Againts LTO Admin Order Held

More than two hundred motorcyclists joined the ’Ride For A Cause’ around the city last Saturday, September 27, 2008, at 4:00 PM, to protest the implementation of Land Transportation Office Administrative Order AHS-2008-015. The activity was planned in coordination with different motorcycle clubs throughout the Philippines and was staged in conjuction with similar rides in other parts of the country (The other protest rides where done in the morning.)

The Davao ‘Ride’ was spearheaded by the Davao Agila Riders and participated in by the On Any Sunday Riders, the Durian Riders, Tachometrics, Team Underground, Motografix, Roadrunners, the Suzuki Raiders Team, AB Daltans, Kamikaze, the Kabayan Riders Club, the XRM Club, DC Motor Club, the Independent Riders Team and H-XRM Club. These different motorcycle clubs have chosen to call themselves the ‘Coalition of Motorcycle Clubs of Davao City.’

Ride participants expressed their stand against the “oppressive” Administrative Order and demanded its immediate scrapping. The Coalition of Motorcycle Clubs vowed to launch more mass actions to dramatize the AO’s negative effects and gain public support for its cause. Legal action is also being considered by the group in the form of asking the courts to issue a temporary restraining order on the AO’s implementation. Lawyer-riders have volunteered their services for free.

Among the provisions in the AO that the riders are questioning are: the requirement that prescribed helmets should be those with UNECE 22 markings only (which is prejudicial to riders who had purchased helmets that conform with other internationally accepted standards), and the securing of permits from LTO for modified motorcycles (which would inevitably lead to a lot of red tape and open even more avenues for corruption.)

Mayor Duterte Meets with Riders

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte met with a group of riders, led by Agila President Daniel, and Davao LTO Regional Director Gomer Dy and Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jesus Zozobrado III last September 18, 2008 at the Mayor’s Office. The meeting was requested by the riders to seek the Mayor’s help on problems and issues the riders were facing with regards to the controversial (and the ambiguous implementation) of LTO Administrative Order 2008-015. (AO 2008-015)

After the Mayor asked the LTO Regional Director and the Assistant Director to his office (which they did, posthaste), the riders explained to the Mayor, who is an avid motorcyclist himself, the shortcomings and unfairness of provisions of the Administrative Order. The apparent ignorance of the LTO on important issues related to motorcycling was pointed also pointed out. The Mayor concurred with the riders, even saying that the provision of the AO banning the wearing of slippers when riding was unconstitutional.

Furthermore, the riders reported to the Mayor that, even after a gentleman’s agreement that grew out of a meeting between the local LTO and the riders, riders were still being arrested on the pretext that the rider, or the motorcycle he was riding, was violating provisions of Administrative Order. A photocopy of a TOP was showed to the Mayor to prove that this was indeed happening.

After the riders aired their side, the Mayor met privately with LTO Regional Director Dy and ARD Zozobrado. It was said that the Mayor requested the Regional Director to go easy on the implementation of the AO pending clarification from national office of the LTO. A few days later, Sunday September 21, the Mayor confirmed this in his TV program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” and said local LTO agreed to impose a moratorium on the implementation of the order until such time that the national office sends clear guidelines.

The Mayor had other colorful and interesting things to say about the controversial LTO Administrative Order. Read the Sunstar Davao report on this.

Group Seeks Scrapping of New Motorcycle Rule

President Daniel’s letter to the LTO is the basis of an article printed by SunStar Davao in their Sept 28 issue.

“A LOCAL motorcycle club has urged other riding clubs and concerned groups to move for the scrapping of Land Transportation Office (LTO) AHS-2008-015 or the new regulations on the use and modifications of motorcycles.

In a letter addressed to LTO-Southern Mindanao regional director Gomer Dy, the Agila Riders Club pointed out the defects and inconsistencies stipulated in the order as well as provisions they deem as "unfair".”

The full article

Ronnie and Craig’s Perfect Adventure

Ronnie was in Canada a few weeks back and fellow Agila Craig hosted him while he was in Vancouver. Pictures (starting at the top) show Craig giving Ronnie a tour of Granville Island where Craig lives; the next picture shows the marina where Craig’s boat is parked. Then, the two are seen in the ziplining area with Craig showing his stuff upside down. The final two pictures were taken in the Trev Deeley Harley Shop which houses, what they claim, is the biggest Harley Davidson Museum in North America.

Now, after Ping and Mercy, and then Ronnie, who would be the next Agila who would take advantage of Craig’s hospitality?