City Govt. Now Prohibits Minor Children To Ride On Motorcycle's Backseat Unguarded

City Govt. Now Prohibits Minor Children To Ride On Motorcycle’s Backseat Unguarded

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The City Government of Maasin,through its Sangguniang Panglunsod (City Council)presided over by Vice-Mayor Marie Effie Abiera-Sabandal, has unanimously approved recently a new City ordinance no.2010-046 prohibiting minor children age ten years old and below to ride on motorcycle’s backseat or bicycle unguarded by a parent or relative.

For many years now, this careless attitude of allowing children to ride at the backseat of a single motorcycle, bicycle or motorcab (tricycle) by some parents has already remained a style until the municipality of Maasin has become a component city ten years ago.

However, this kind of parents’ insensitivity from potential danger that poses in unguarded riding at the backseat by some minors was somewhat ignored and overlooked by the majority of the parents and relatives themselves and those in authorities.

Not one of the past city officials was concern enough to pass a new ordinance stopping this precariously dangerous style of riding among minor children in the public roads and streets.

This reporter was likewise apprehensive with this kind of parental neglect of unguarded backseat- riding among the very young. Yet ironically, those parents who were unwittingly doing this dangerous act while travelling with their children in many occasions were too confident.

They don’t think nor consider that potential accident was lurking somewhere along the way which they might encounter anytime. They seem to lack discernment, prudence and cautiousness. Many concern commuters and pedestrians have similar kind of apprehensions too.

As Maasin reached ten years old, it was only recently that one of the newcomers City Councilor has finally expressed his altruistic concern to save the unguarded backseat-riding minors from potential serious injuries and untimely deaths.

He then proposed and passed the abovementioned ordinance which was unanimously approved by his colleagues after some deliberations during their sessions.

Earlier, a public hearing of the aforesaid ordinance was also held at the City Gymnasium. Three other ordinances, like anti-Jaywalking by SP Alejandro Rojas, granting of monetary incentives to medalists representing the City of Maasin in Regional and National competitions by Essie Espina Garvez, and another ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to initiate the institution of Expropriations Proceedings Pursuant to the Rules of Court by the City of Maasin against a portion of lot no.5799 claimed by Herbert Hermosilla by Margarita Bantug, were likewise discussed.

Open Forum

During the open forum Basak Barangay Captain Felix Padilla suggested to the presiding offer-designate City Councilor Reynaldo Hatayna that the driver and the rider should wear the prescribed helmet while travelling in motorcycle. A kind of helmet that’s real which saves the head of its user. Not the kind of helmet brought by majority of the motorcycle drivers during the previous years that will not actually save their heads because it’s not strong nor durable enough to resist the impact of a bump or collision when meet with accidents. In other words, not the kind of helmet that is being bought only for the seek of compliance with the ordinance but those that are genuine.

City Councilor Ricky Montalbo also suggested that it’s not only motorcycle but bicycle as well to prohibit minor children age 10 years old and below from riding on the backseat or front seat of the driver.

Odong Orais, President of a motorcycle association Zone 11 MODA, urged that responsible person should accompany a child who is ten years old or below when riding either a motorcab or single motorcycle.

For his part, Mambajao Barangay Captain Cirilo Maninggo expressed his appreciation of the new ordinance because “this can create a culture of discipline and at the same time it can prevent any accidental or serious injuries to riding children”.

The said public hearing was also attended by Maasin’s 70 Barangay Captains, motorcab and habalhabal drivers, some city hall employees and representatives from Saint Joseph College and the Maasin City College.

Penalties/Fines

The violators of the new ordinance no.2010-046 shall be fined. First offender-either parents or relatives will be warned and sign a promissory note not to repeat the same offense.

For the second offense the fine is P50.00.For the third and succeeding offenses is a fine of P75.00 and to undergo one hour seminar about the said ordinance and responsible parenthood.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)