ILOILO CITY — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Saturday, April 06, announced that he is willing to “suspend” the implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, which requires the placement of plates in front and at the back of motorcycles.

The Chief Executive made the statement during the 25th National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines (NFMCP) Annual Convention held at the Iloilo Convention Center.

“I will try to convince the [Land Transportation Office] LTO to maybe hang onto it. I-suspend ko lang muna. Kasi it is not good,” President Duterte said.

He underscored that these number plates would be “dangerous” due to their sharp edges.

The President added that he is amenable to increasing the size of the motorcycle plate but only a fourth of its current size.

“Lakihan na lang ninyo ang plate number sa likod by one-fourth para makita talaga yung number. Ang importante talaga yung sa likod,” he noted.

President Duterte also expressed concern over the law’s prescribed fine of P50,000 up to P100,000. He said that these amounts were “too high” for those who would be caught without the bigger license plates.

“Maybe as compromise, I’m willing [to lower it to] P10,000 to P15,000,” he said.

President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11235 on March 8. The law requires motorcycles to have larger and more readable from a distance number plates as a way to prevent crimes committed by motorcycle riders.

According to the President, he considered the recommendations of the police and military when he signed the measure.

“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

The President also said that he would further discuss this matter with the LTO and Senator Richard Gordon, who authored the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, in order to come up with fair solution.###PND