LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial board approved an ordinance requiring all drivers and riders of motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes and bicycles to wear a high-visibility vest while travelling along national highways and in all provincial, municipal and barangay roads.
Under Ordinance No. 2022-302, it will be a policy of the provincial government to secure and safeguard all road users, particularly the drivers and riders of motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes and bicycles travelling within the territorial jurisdiction of the province from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of fatal or life-threatening accidents and crashes.
Further, the provincial government will pursue a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the safety of motorists, their passengers, including pedestrians at all times through the mandatory enforcement on the use of high-visibility vests.
The ordinance pointed out that all drivers, riders and backriders of motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes and bicycles shall wear a high-visibility vest while travelling, whether or long drives, trips, along the provincial, municipal and barangay roads within the province and along the national roads within the province’s jurisdiction on a 24-hour duration.
In case the drivers, riders and backriders of the said vehicles carry with them a backpack, it should have a reflector or a high-visibility material big enough for easy visibility.
The ordinance shall apply to all drivers and riders of motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes and bicycles travelling along national, provincial, municipal and barangay roads within the province.
The ordinance tasked the Office of the Provincial Administrator, in cooperation with the municipal and barangay governments, to implement the provisions of the approved measure. Moreover, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) may be authorized to also implement the provisions of the ordinance in coordination with concerned municipal and barangay governments.
Any driver, rider or back rider of motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes and bicycles travelling within the national, provincial, municipal and barangay roads not wearing a high-visibility vest and no high-visibility material on their backpacks in violation of the ordinance shall be punished with a fine of P500 for the first offense, a fine of P1,000 for the second offense and a fine of P15,000 for the third and succeeding offenses or community service at the concerned barangay for 3 days.
The ordinance stated that the fine shall be paid to the municipal government concerned.
The provincial government will be conducting a provincewide information campaign on the pertinent provisions of the ordinance prior to its full implementation by the concerned authorities that were tasked to enforce the same.
The provincial government recognized the greater need for policy action to reduce motorcycle, tricycle, e-bike and bicycle accidents that result to physical injuries and even death thereby protecting the lives and properties of its people.
