Impractical and anti-poor.
This is how the Roman Catholic Church in Negros Oriental considers the requirement for motorcycle riders to wear protective helmets.
Vicar-general Msgr. Gamaliel Tulabing told a public hearing at the Dumaguete City Session Hall Friday that to be effective, the law must be acceptable, practical, necessary and truly beneficial.{{more}}
The public hearing was called by Councilor Antonio Remollo for his proposed ordinance prohibiting the use of bonnet or full face shield crash helmets or items of similar nature that cover the face or otherwise hide the identity of a person within Dumaguete is being proposed.
Tulabing claimed he is a law abiding citizen, and, as much as possible, would want all traffic laws to be implemented, and accept the principle that the law may be harsh but it is the law.
But living in a tropical country like the Philippines, particularly in Dumaguete, which is considered as the motorcycle capital of the country, it is impractical to wear helmets, he said, adding that it will be an additional burden to a poor family.
Tulabing suggested that instead of a law, the helmet requirement should be a mere traffic suggestion. He said the responsibility to obey other traffic laws, like the speed limit, should be the duty of the motorists. Most accidents happen because of open defiance of traffic rules on speed limits and carelessness, he noted.
Negros Oriental State University president Dr. Henry Sojor, meanwhile, said it is about time a thorough study is made on why this law is vehemently opposed in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental.
Being considered as the motorcycle capital of the country, Sojor noted, proper consultation and public hearing should have been conducted in this part of the country before it was passed by congress. (PNA/JG)
