Creation of new DOTr Task Force on Motorcycle Policy ordered by Sec. Dizon
Last week, a viral video showed five law enforcers of the Land Transportation Office Region 7 (LTO-R7) manhandling a motorcycle rider in Panglao, Bohol. This resulted in the dismissal of the five LTO enforcers effective today, March 3, 2025.
Such abuse of power is frowned upon by Transportation Secretary, Vince Dizon. Because of this incident, Sec. Dizon has ordered the immediate creation of a task force that will review the current government policies on the use of motorcycles. According to Sec. Dizon, these policies, many of which are outdated, can be the source of abuse from some of the law enforcers.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon
“The DOTr will establish a task force to be headed by Asec. [for Road Transport] Jojo Reyes. A task force that will be conducting a sweeping review of all policies and regulations covering the use of motorcycles by both the LTO and the LTFRB. We need to review the current regulations because it may also be the source of the abusive behavior among some of our law enforcers. So, we need to study that,” said Transportation Secretary, Vince Dizon.
During his explanation about the creation of the new task force, Sec. Dizon mentioned that only motorcycles are singled out during routine checkpoints. He said that he had already noticed this during his everyday commute long before he was appointed as DOTr secretary. Apparently, says Dizon, motorcycle riders are being singled out because, among other reasons, their motorcycles have no license plates. It baffled him, especially upon learning that the backlog on motorcycle license plates has been going on for the past 10 years already.
“Why are we making them suffer? [Because] they don't have license plates? When it turns out the government is the one who failed them and didn't [deliver] license plates for the past 10 years!” said Sec. Dizon.
Sec. Dizon added that this is just one example from the many government policies on the use of motorcycles that he wants reviewed. He says that the government’s power and authority should be used to make Filipino lives easy, not harder.
“Because we cannot use our power and authority to bring hardship to our fellow Filipinos. We should use our power and our authority, to protect them and make their daily lives easier.”
The other details of this new DOTr Task Force, such as the timeframe of policy review and advisory, will they hold a stakeholder’s meeting, etc., will be announced by the agency soon.
