To our (MRO/MAP)'s criticts... Induldge us please...

Woke up and decided to check my FB and came across a picture desecrating an image of a person with a tattoo as "PASAWAY"

Here at MRO/MAP, we do not condemn the "PASAWAY"... We aim to save them... We do not go out and throw dirt at their faces... We hope to help them unlearn the bad habits... We do not crucify them from what they have done to paint negativity on our image, but we want them to learn from their mistakes and make amends...

In that picture, a question was asked... "Is this the type of people that your defending through your rallies?"

Let me make a statement on this...

We do not go out and rally... We go out, peaceful, no intention to block traffic or make people suffer as much as we could... Instead, we are there to spread awareness, knowledge of whats going on and to help them realize what were going through... This is called a peaceful motorcade that has strict mandates of absolute and maximum courtesy to other users... Whether a line breaks or a group is separated, the priority is to get them through when and if they want to... What our "ESCORTS" from the government does, is out of our hands because we have our own marshals... But because they are there, we allow them to take control at their own discretion... We have made it clear though, that any non-courtesy given to the other road users is frowned upon... We do not make or suggest or tell our participants to block traffic, get off of their bikes in the middle of the highway and what not...

Next, we defend everybody... Yes everybody... That includes me, us, them, and even YOU... We defend their rights that are being stepped upon, abused and taken for granted... We defend the rights of the other 95% of riders who do not belong to MRO/MAP, or any GROUP for that matter who has no access to the information, the new laws and whats happening in the riding community... "PASAWAY" or not, we do this for them in hopes that we impart the right way of using their machines, knowing and following the law and hopefully, undoing the wrong notion of being a rider...

Finally, at MRO/MAP, we make sure that we are bound by rules that we do not create on our own... We bind ourselves to what is written... Although we seek clarification, ask questions, provide suggestions, voice out concern and act diplomatically against legislation, rules, ordinances and proposals that prove detrimental to the riders safety and rights, that doesn't mean we are nothing more of an activist group... We have our own set of papers, documents, studies, data, resource material and collected reactions from other groups here and abroad that back up our position... We do not hide incidents, cover up stories, fabricate/create a different outlook when presenting statistics and claim expertise...

So yes, we fight for the "PASAWAY's" rights because, condemning them will not help them... Instead, rescuing them or showing them what is right from wrong, shows that we are riders like them...

We are not here to claim that we are representatives of the community... We are here, simply, to let their voices run through us... Who's voice are you shouting for?

- Jobert Bolanos

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Desperation? Depression? Nah... It's just crap...

No matter how much good you do for other people, there will always be those who think other wise... They will think you are wasting your time, wasting your effort and calling you useless, worthless and spit on your face like you are not worth crap...

Yet these are the people that you do these things for, hoping that what you have done will leave some sort of spec of legacy that you have done something worth being proud of...

Sadly, no matter how much other people are proud of what you do, the ones you had hoped to be behind you and support you on everything are the very people who think your no better than SHIT...

So much for the saying, "you worth is only realized once your gone"

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A WAKE UP CALL TO ALL RIDERS:

Introduction = It is noted that the efforts and intent of the government to help reduce accidents, crime and promote safer roads must applauded however, The design and implementation is somewhat immature. The need to do drastic changes may be warranted, but it must still comply to the provisions of the law to protect those who are affected by the problems and are responsible road users. This topic will discuss the issues surrounding riders and what is being forced on their shoulders for what has become, a regulation frenzy by the different LGU's and the MMDA. What is concerning is that certain provisions of the law are being ignored and worse, violated in the acts being pushed into effect.

What is safe for a motorcycle = Being able to maneuver safely to avoid obstacles, objects and road conditions when and where necessary in a manner that does not affect other vehicles.

Can a motorcycle sharing the road be safe = As long as each vehicle acknowledges the presence of the other, they can use the road in harmony. However, without discipline, the results can vary from risky to chaotic.

Is exclusive MC lanes safe = Only when the speed limits are observed and enforced while the riders are giving each other enough space to maneuver out of danger when it arises
Is non exclusive lanes safe = It is possible if all vehicles follow all the rules and strict enforcement is dealt amongst all road users then road sharing can exist and motorcycles can stay in their lane while sharing it with other vehicles.

What is the problem = Motorcyclists are not the only undisciplined road users out there. The private and most especially the public utility drivers are the same. If equal enforcement is instilled amongst all road users then discipline will carry through all the drivers and riders. Focusing discipline on just the riders will not solve the problem entirely. Instead, while you are creating a disciplined environment for riders, ignoring the drivers puts the riders in harms way. While motorcyclists conform to the rules and the restrictions, having undisciplined drivers that have full access to the blue lanes makes the riders moving targets. Moreover, the proliferation of more uneducated and reckless riders and drivers will continue to grow if the indiscriminate issuance of licenses do not change. So disciplining the riders and drivers will be a very slow process as the numbers continue to grow.

Root Cause Analysis = Allowing riders and drivers to go out on the streets without proper education and screening is like teaching your dog to drive. You will eventually lead him into a higher possibility of getting into an accident. The licensing agency must apply strict and comprehensive testing to all applicants to filter those who are not qualified to be on the road. This will allow the enforcement agency to a more effective enforcement of the rules for traffic and proper road usage as you keep the ratio of road users and enforcers compatible or not over bandwidth.

Supplementary = We have to acknowledge that there are literally thousands if not millions of riders that have no discipline, no respect and no consideration for other vehicles. And that is why the people, especially the non riders are against us and wont see reason or the justification for equality. That is the sad truth. However, it is the sworn duty of the government to be fair, equal and non partisan over any group or individual. But the immense swelling of the road users population has gone out of proportion to what the enforcement can handle. The question is, how do we solve this?

Conclusion = The existing laws must be strictly enforced amongst all road users and the licensing must undergo drastic changes. Only then can a long term solution be reached. There is no other way to prevent the growth of the road users and the corresponding accidents and crimes that happen while using a vehicle. Although the implementation of the, MC lane, mandatory vests or banning of back rides do partial work, it instills segregation, profiling, the passing of the burden of incompetency and discrimination because all other vehicles are now given less attention. The law must apply to all or non at all... And the ends does not justify the means.

Wake up my fellow riders... In order for us to gain the favor of the government, we must help ourselves instill discipline amongst our brethren... Lets do this starting with ourselves.

Then going out to fight for our rights will mean more to us and more effective to our cause...

Thank you!

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A message... To the people who call themselves the legitimate riders...

The ends does not justify the means....

Oo, bumaba ang namatay sa commonwealth... Bumababa din ang dami ng dumadaan dito, bumaba din ang speed limit... pero, ang mga bus at jeep, bumaba din ba ang mga pag pasok at pag cut sa linya ng motor? Pinapansin ba sila? O motor lang ang inaabangan parati? Fair and equal treatment ang nawala dahil ang focus nasa motor... Ilang aksidente na ang naireport ng kapwa natin motorista pero na media blackout ng powers that be... Bakit? The risk is still there... The only reason the accidents went down is because the riders have moved elsewhere, they are doing what they can in avoiding the buses and jeeps, adapting and taking the risk that our restricted movement in the lane has given us... At what cost? Buti sana kung hinhuhuli din mga labas pasok na PUV sa MC lane... Buti sana kung maayos na pinapatupad ang existing na batas ng pantay pantay sa lahat... Hindi yung halos lahat ng attensyon nakatutok na sa mga nag momotor... Sumunod na ang EDSA, sumunod na ang Marikina, sumunod na ang Manila... Bakit? Dahil akala nila, pwede na lang nilang pag tulakan ang motor at mga gumagamit nito... SACRIFICIAL lambs na lang ba tayo? Again, the ends does not justify the means... Hindi porket alam kong masamang tao ang aking kapit bahay ay pwede ko nang ilagay ang batas sa sarili kong kamay at dispatsahin sya... Safety should coincide with the Law... Not sacrifice the law for safety... Now people think they can just ignore whatever right, equality and fair treatment that we deserve as citizens just to have them do something... The root cause of the problem is still being ignored... Indiscriminate licensing and inadequate enforcement practices... Why settle for a band aid solution that does not fix the problem on a larger scale?

Proper screening in licensing, proper education, and proper enforcement is the key to the issues on the road... The ones being implemented now only puts us in a box, treats us like criminals and impedes equal treatment... You say your a rider... Why don't you think like one? Why are we the ones carrying the burden of the people who are responsible for these problems? They swore to protect and make our lives easier, instead, they are passing all the hardship and prejudice on us, the people... Just because we are riders does not make all of us bad people that they have to whip with their sticks of rank and power... There are those who are good, deserving and has the desire to see things change for the better... What kind of change are we going into?

Safety? What is safe about allowing buses and jeeps to cut across, stop in front, and speed behind the riders put us in? I have not even begun to talk about other cars, taxi's, suv's, vans and what not... Safe? The MC lane is a misconception of safety... The numbers you lean on are because the bikes are forced to follow what is being pushed down their throats... If you have the enforcement push the same effort to regulating all vehicles and apprehend all would be violators, the result would be the same if not even better...

I have seen the truth about safety and how a rider accepts risk and deals with it to make himself safe... This is not one of them... In fact, it is detrimental to his safety... bikes are designed to be able to maneuver away from the risk that comes in front, beside and behind him... If you remove even a part of that capability, you in turn increase risk and sacrifice safety... It is through regulation that you control the way they move... Not by restriction or by boxing them in...

And once more, the statistics are being used to misconstrue the truth... Majority of the fatal accidents are caused not during the day when the bikes are filtering through traffic... They mostly happen at night... We have not even gone through the cause and who's at fault in these accidents... Some of them are bikes being run over, side swiped and slammed into by other vehicles which is not even the riders fault... Some are caused by alcohol, drugs, over speeding, road conditions and road rage... Who is to say that all the accidents are the riders fault? Do you have that data?

Again, 3 months of data is not even close to significant on the actual events that transpire... Look at the images and videos that are being shared all over... Ride the lanes during the daytime... Look and see how other vehicles bully bikes in their lanes because they know they cant move out of it... Experience how you continuously lookout and be on the defensive while the other vehicles are being ignored by enforcement... In fact, look at where the enforcement is during your rides on the lanes... Do not ride as a group... Ride alone... Ride like everybody else... Experience, see and feel what it is like... The pictures and videos already show more than enough, but hey, why not see for yourself... I ride these roads regularly... I check and visit the activity of MMDA which is almost non existent a lot of times against the other road users who clearly and deliberately ignore and break the traffic laws while the riders follow what they are forced to follow...

You may think you know, but you don't... Denial is the first defense mechanism against truth... Your statistics still does not justify the means no matter what... And the burden of proof is still out there... Waiting to show it's ugly face... Do we need to wait for somebody to die? And speaking of death, that one person recorded, did he die while being in the lane? How about the covered and unreported accidents that was shared on the internet? Did you know that most of them happened while the riders were in the lane while the rest is when they were trying to get into or out of the lane because of the 100 meter rule?

Because of the trend that started with the MC lane, lawmakers are now using that to apply other laws that segregate, profile, push and discriminate riders and their passengers... Cause and effect... The deadly and sinful fruits of a seed planted by the MC Lane...

Wake up... It's not too late... We must protect our selves from what's taking place in society... Let's not lead the people in power into totalitarian rule... Let's not allow the existing and forgotten rules and regulations be replaced by discriminative ones... The issue is they do not have it within them to enforce what's already there equally amongst all road users...

What will make you see the truth? When will you see the truth? When I say, "I TOLD YOU SO"?

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Official position of MRO on the MC lanes: ONE VOICE - ONE STAND!

Official position of MRO on the MC lanes: ONE VOICE - ONE STAND!

1. We are in favor of the MC Lane only if the infrastructure supports it and the conditions are ideal (Currently, IT IS NOT!)
2. We ask that they focus first on the current issues like the lack of control over PUV's who stop, block, weave and race though the roads without being apprehended
3. To stop the indiscriminate issuance of R1 licenses to unqualified riders
4. To strictly enforce the existing laws and not add new ones that are half baked to say the least
5. To remove all unscrupulous enforcement personnel who cannot do their jobs properly
6. To remove unequal treatment by enforcement on mc riders while other vehicles are being ignored
7. To allow us to be part of any plan or legislative projects for motorcycles
8. To bring back fair and honest treatment of all road users
9. To stop branding all riders as bad, irresponsible and criminals
10. To stop making MC riders money machines on the road

Please take note of number 1: We like the idea... What we don't like is the way it is implemented and the way they designed it without TRULY considering our position and safety. They say it's for our own good, but in reality, they are dictating rules that violate other provisions of the law... They say it's because of the bad apples on the road, but in reality, every class of vehicle has bad apples and just because there are bad riders and drivers does not give them the right to treat everybody else the same... That is undue profiling and that is discrimination...

The ends does not justify the means... One Voice, One Stand!!!

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You want a long term solution? Here's a suggestion...

Smart people with smart answers... I love the way the MC LANE fanboys call their detractors stupid... Hehehe...

Anyway, here is a suggestion...

In one day, I was able to amass more than 500 pictures of violations perpetrated by buses and jeeps on Commonwealth...

That did not even take me more than 3 hours to take them...

Pictures will clearly show plate numbers how they violated the law...

Lets say each violation is worth 300 pesos...

That is 150,000 per day in tickets...

These are all tied up to the vehicle records and each week, they are compiled and sent to the operators... The operators then have a number of days to indicate the drivers info (License no.) and return it back to the MMDA... MMDA then submits the list to LTO with the corresponding photograph stating the bus used, plate number, and license number of the driver during that time... Fees are collected during license renewal... That is step one...

If in case a driver is caught by camera multiple times, his license will be suspended or confiscated with the amount still tied up to his name...

For the operators failure to submit the list of drivers who were caught operating their franchise at the time of the picture was taken, they also suffer a penalty up to franchise suspension for non compliance... This is step two...

150,000 a day for 3 hours in one location is worth 1.5M in 10 locations... 1.5M a day = 45,000,000 in a month for just 10 locations... How many locations are there?

How to make this more effective? HD CCTV cameras... A centralized ops center... Validation and verification of each violation caught is QA'd for fairness... Each violation is tagged with a picture/screenshot for transparency... Violators are protected by a double jeopardy system that allows only one entry at a given time or place... That way, no two ops personnel can tag one driver twice at a given time...

This will definitely create a cloud of discipline over the drivers and would solve the issue of capturing each and every single violation in a system that is tagged, secured and objective rather than subjective...

Each picture must contain the following to be validated:

1. Picture of scenario showing violation
2. Picture of plate number of vehicle (Which is easy now since the body numbers are painted all over the vehicles)
3. Picture showing the face of the driver (HD Cameras are more than capable of doing this)

The drivers can even protest an apprehension if it was not them in the picture... This means the operators made a mistake of putting their license numbers at the time of the incident and incurs a penalty for unscrupulous reporting... This is step three...

This system gives both drivers and operators accountability...

And with that, operators will now instill discipline and responsible driving with their people because each time their bus gets caught, they suffer points which amounts to the suspension of a franchise or a corresponding penalty for not being able to control their people... This is step four...

This system is just half of what it is capable of... Then you can work on the private vehicles... Different set of procedures for them since they are not operators except for company owned vehicles...

Each operator has log book of who is driving their vehicles at a given time and date... So filling the blanks is easy...

And in today's day and age, every business has access to email... If not, then they are sent by snail mail...

Although collections are not immediate, they can easily make that money whenever a driver renews his license...

Then random apprehensions are made on the road with the use of an electronic/wireless gadget that issues tickets to licenses and simultaneously connects to the main server to save them... This is in relation to the ops center so that they don't get tagged with two violations at a given time... Then if there are pending violations for the driver caught by street level enforcers, then their licenses gets confiscated on the spot... When this happens, the vehicle is towed and the operator fined for allowing a delinquent driver to operate their bus or jeep... This is step five...

In one year, this will instill massive change and discipline over all drivers on the streets...

If they dont want it, then the solution is simply...

GAWIN NILA ANG TRABAHO NILA NG MAAYOS AT HULIHIN NILA LAHAT NG VIOLATORS NA MAKIKITA NILA IMBIS NA NAMIMILI SILA NG ORAS AT NG HUHULIHIN NILA...

This is my suggestion...

Rather that spending money on the lane, then intensify operations with the use of technology, imagery and proper process building... Make use of the billions being spent on IT Development which goes no where...

Then, the BILLION PESO skyway over EDSA is no longer needed since the streets will now become more free flowing and the road users more disciplined thus creating a better driving/riding experience for all...

Kaya sa ibang bansa, hindi kailangan masyado ang napakaraming enforcer... Isang traffic cop lang per intersection ok na kasi me support sya ng CCTV... Tapos, 24 hour pa ang operation... Kahit disoras na ng gabi, me nahuhuli pa din... The beauty of night vision CCTV...

All this without creating new laws or implementing new, half baked ideas, impartial and unequal treatment on the street level, and removing all incompetent and corrupt enforcers on the streets...

Ang nangyayari kasi, employ sila ng employ ng mga taong hindi naman kayang gawin ng tama trabaho nila tapos hindi sila nasisita o nabibigyan ng kauukulang diciplinary action...

On the road users side naman, mawawala na ang lagay... Mawawala na ang dahilan, pakiusap o takas... Lahat kasi objective na... Hindi na subjective...

Lahat titino at aayos na ng pag mamaneho sa kalsada...

Sasabihin nilang walang budget?!? Puro nga sila panukala ng kung ano ano tapos sabay implementation... Walang budget?!?

Edi gawin nilang concession agreement with the group who will build the system... Habang kumakalap sila ng fines during the collection, binabayaran ila unti unti yung system at mga tao... Wala pang nilabas na budget...

Now, even without the system in place, hindi naman talaga kailangan ang MC lane kung gagawin lang nila ang trabaho nila ng maayos... Papatuparin ang batas na nakasulat na mula noon at pag iibayuhin nila ang disiplina at tamang aksyon laban sa mga violators...

The system only makes the work a lot faster, simple and effective...

ROI will be made in a matter of two to four years depending on the cost of the system and the problem of undisciplined, and reckless drivers will be solved at the same time...

What say you?!?

I can go on and on with this idea and present this against the MC lane factor that instills segregation, discrimination, unequal treatment from the law and promotes safer roads by the cause and effect that this process can do...

Hindi yung band aid solution na inaabuso lang ng sarili nilang tao at ng mga miron na akala mo kung sinong mga experto sa larangan ng pag momotor... You dont just have to be a rider to understand it... You also need to be a driver... That way, you see it both ways... Over and under... All bases covered...

Bakit hindi nila ito papaboran, Sad to say, in the long run kasi, pag disiplinado na ang tao at mahigpit na ang patakaran, liliit na ang kita nila in the future...

But logically, what better system can you think of than this? MC lane to pass the burden to the road users?!? SCAPEGOAT SYSTEM to run away from their incapacity to do the job right...

PILIPINAS, GUSTO NA KITANG IWANAN...

Pero di ko kayang pabayaan ang mga taong nag kukumahog na mag trabaho upang buhayin ang kanilang mga pamilya sa ganitong systema na niloloko, nililinlang, inaabuso, pineperahan, inaagrabyado at hindi patas na pagtrato sa kanila, sa atin at sa ibang kababayan natin...

Nakakalunkot, pero sino ba ang mag tatanggol sa mga tao kundi tayo rin...

Supporta nyo ang kailangan para maisulong natin ang tamang systema na pag papatupad ng existing na batas, pagiging strikto sa disiplina at pag bibigay ng lisensya at pag bibigay aral sa lahat ng gumagamit ng kalsada...

Tulad sa pag asa na binibigay nyo sa amin at sa MAP/MRO, sana maka asa din kami sa supporta ninyo...

Time to Remember, Time to Ride tayo ulit para sa tama, maayos, ligtas at patas na pag papatupad ng batas sa lansangan!!!

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EDSA MC Lane... The battle for our rights, safety and equality has a new location...

TV5 News just came and have sought for our reaction on the recent move to implement the MC lane on EDSA...

As far as we are concerned, we are still in the same position as before...

Just in case they cut the interview short and all that I have said does not come into the interview once they broadcast it, I have mentioned the following:

1. The infrastructure is not ready
2. The MC lane should not be called the MC lane because everybody else is allowed to use that lane
3. Lack of enforcement for the existing laws is what's keeping the problems rampant
4. Lack of proper screening and stricter issuance of licenses allows more and more undisciplined road users on the streets and behind the wheel of a vehicle
5. Creation of new laws isn't the solution, stricter enforcement of the existing ones will put everybody in place
6. Just like anything implemented, once it has taken it's time in the limelight, it is easily forgotten and put aside
7. The intention is not the issue being questioned in fact, we applaud it... It is the part where basic rights, the safety act and the equal treatment that is being ignored for a band aid solution is what bothers us
8. We are clearly being segregated and discriminated by the mere fact that they are willing to sacrifice the provisions of the law that provide fair and equal treatment to all
9. It may have lessened the accidents/incidents involving motorcycles on the areas where the MC lane exist, but has it reduced the over all number or accidents/incidents everywhere else included?
10. They said that their implementing guide was the ordinances issued by QC and Pasay which led to the MC lane in those areas... Does this mean that Makati, Mandaluyong, QC have issued new ordinances for EDSA?
11. Where is the IRR for the MC Lane?
12. Has any document been published?
13. Has all efforts to disseminate information to all motorists been done?
14. The MC lane is not going to solve traffic, accidents and crime... Your only pushing it somewhere else
15. Motorcycles help in reducing congestion on the road by it's ability to filter through traffic... Teaching the riders and regulating the way filtering is done will help reduce incidents involving motorcycles... The MC lane will only make EDSA more congested since you are telling the smaller bikes to line up and to be part of the traffic
16. The lack of control and enforcement on PUV's clearly shows that they are being ignored... Why?!?

The news crew from TV5 has shared images with me and it is already clear that the MC lane in EDSA is on the second lane from the center island... In-between the private lanes...

Although separated from the PUV's, we are still being crossed by other vehicles from the left, right and back... As far as the chairman is concerned, the MC lane is and will not be exclusive to MC's.... Not even semi-exclusive... Then why is it called the MC lane?

Mr. Chairman, if you can easily deploy a hundred men to watch over the Bourne Legacy shooting, why can't you deploy your men to enforce the laws of the streets instead of creating or implementing new ones that clearly ignore, violate and disregards the rights, safety and equal treatment of the people you swore to serve?!?

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