SUB-400CC MOTORCYCLE BAN IN SLEX. (From left to right) Ariel Lim from Usapang Transport Poe, Commuter Safety and Protection lawyer Ariel Inton, Angkas head of regulatory and public affairs George Royeca, Angkas head of operations David Medrana and Motorcycle Rights Organizations chair Jobert Bolanos give their statements on the recent enforcement of the ban on sub-400cc in Osmeña highway from Magallanes southward to Sales Interchange during a press conference at the Ilustrado restaurant in Intramuros, Manila on July 24, 2019. (Photo by Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)
MANILA—An official of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said on Wednesday the Skyway O&M Corporation (SOMCO) is merely enforcing government regulations on the ban of sub-400cc motorcycles along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
TRB spokesperson Alberto Suansing made the statement in response to the negative reactions from motorcycle-ride service provider Angkas and private individuals regarding the ban.
Suansing said Angkas' interpretation, as well as other motorcycle riders' groups, on which roads are considered tollways is incorrect.
“Ang sabi nga namin, i-verify mo sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) kung saan magmula ang boundary ng South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)', which is maliwanag ‘yun na ang boundary ng SLEX is from Magallanes, southward (What we said, verify with the DPWH where the SLEX begins, which is clear. The boundary of SLEX is from Magallanes, southward),” Suansing told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview.
“From Magallanes southward is already part of the tollway. Yung Magallanes northward, papuntang President Quirino, hindi na sakop ng tollways ‘yun (Magallanes northward, towards President Quirino, that’s not a tollway anymore),” he added.
In a press conference at the Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Jobert Bolanos, chairman of the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), said they are questioning whether the road from Magallanes toward Sales Bridge is really a tollway since it is already beyond the Nichols Toll Plaza.
“Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito (What we’re talking about here) is beyond Nichols Toll Plaza which is Sales Bridge all the way to Magallanes. Yes, it is still part of SLEX, however, is it still part of the Limited Access Tollway?” Bolanos said.
George Royeca, Angkas head of regulatory and public affairs, claimed that research made by the company into the ban of sub-400cc motorcycles in SLEX is not backed by past laws, directives or orders from governing bodies.
“Wala pa po kaming nakikitang deriktiba or official order from the TRB, also from the other agencies that’s concerned (We have not seen any directives or official orders from the TRB, also from other agencies concerned),” Royeca said.
He added that SOMCO may be liable for going beyond its authority for enforcing a ban on motorcycles without coordinating with national agencies and local government units (LGUs).
“All we know is that Skyway made that order. Is that true? Can a private corporation dictate the use of public roads?” Royeca said.
Bolanos added that SOMCO added confusion into the mix by putting up road signs that could be misunderstood by motorists.
“All of a sudden, nagkaroon ng paglalagay ng mga signages. Nagkaroon ng signages na kung babasahin mo, it spans from at grade. Meaning, yung level ng SLEX, taas at baba, all the way to Manila. People began to think na buong Osmeña bawal na kasi kung all the way to Manila yan, e di Quirino Highway na ‘yon (they put up signages. Signages popped up that if you read it, it spans from at grade. Which means both upper and lower levels of SLEX, all the way to Manila. People began to think the whole Osmeña enforces the ban because if it’s all the way to Manila, that’s already Quirino Highway),” Bolanos said.
However, Suansing said SOMCO is free to enforce the ban on sub-400cc motorcycles and to put up signs with information on the ban as long as they do it within the roads in their jurisdiction.
“Even without informing us, they can do that because it’s just a reiteration of the ban,” Suansing said.
Proper coordination
Royeca, meanwhile, said they want an audience with different governing bodies, private partners and other stakeholders so that the confusion and hassle for commuters and motorists alike can be avoided in the future.
“Angkas from the very beginning, we’ve always been advocates of coordination with the proper stakeholders, government and otherwise, NGOs [non-government organizations], even people that are against us. Let’s do proper coordination before we create policies like this that would be the detriment of commuters,” he said.
On July 22, the SOMCO began enforcing a ban on sub-400cc motorcycles on the SLEX/Osmeña highway from Magallanes, Makati City up to Sales Interchange in Taguig.
The stretch of SLEX used to allow sub-400cc motorcycles for several years, which meant that countless riders, unaware of the recent ban, were apprehended. (PNA)
