MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he would suspend the law requiring bigger license plates on the front and back of motorcycles.
Duterte last month signed the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, authored by Sen. Richard Gordon, that aims to prevent crimes by making number plates more readable from a distance.
Thousands of motorcycle riders have protested against the law, saying bigger front plates interfere with the aerodynamics of a motorcycle and may get detached at high speeds or by strong wind.
The President said he would discuss the matter with Gordon and the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
"I will try to convince the LTO to maybe hang onto it, i-suspend ko lang muna, kasi it is not good. It is dangerous to place another gadget, lalo na may kanto ang plate number eh," Duterte said in a speech at the 25th annual convention of the National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines (NFMCP) in Iloilo City.
(I will try to convince the LTO to maybe hang onto it, I will suspend it for the meantime because it is not good. It is dangerous to place another gadget, especially since a license plate has corners.)
"Lakihan na lang ninyo ang plate number sa likod by one-fourth para makita talaga yung number. Ang importante talaga yung sa likod."
(Instead, increase the size of the rear plate by one-fourth so that the number will be more visible. The rear is more important.)
Duterte said he signed the measure into law upon the recommendation of the police and military.
"Alam mo kasi bakit pinirmahan ko, ang pulis tao ko yan, ang military tao ko, anong irekomenda nila, I will adopt it. Basta maglagay lang ng rationale," he said.
(Why did I sign it? Because the police and the military are my me. Whatever they recommend, I will adopt it, as long as they provide a rationale.)
Rodrigo Duterte, motorcycles, Doble Plaka Law, RA 11235, Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act