Tolentino assures final push to amend ‘Doble Plaka’ Law underway

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

FILE: KINGS OF THE ROAD. Riders occupy an intersection in Quezon City on World Motorcycle Day on June 21, 2024. Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino on Thursday (Aug. 29, 2024) said the proposal to remove the “burdensome and discriminatory” provisions of Republic Act No. 11235 or the “Doble Plaka” (double plate number) Law is nearing to becoming a law now that the version of the House of Representatives is expected to reach the plenary. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino is confident that the proposal to remove the “burdensome and discriminatory” provisions of Republic Act No. 11235 or the “Doble Plaka” (double plate number) Law will soon be realized now that the version of lithe House of Representatives is expected to reach the plenary.

In his regular program on Thursday, Tolentino got an update from 1-Rider Party-List Representative Bonifacio Bosita that the House counterpart of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2555, recently approved by the Senate, has already hurdled the committee level and will be calendared in the House plenary soon.

“We will await its passage so that we can reconcile it with the Senate version at the bicameral level and be able to help our riders,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino and Bosita confirmed that they are now collaborating to push for the proposed amendments of the law which requires motorcycles to have two license plates.

“We thank you for spearheading the passage of the amendments to the Doble Plaka Law. Because when you read it, the law seems to assume that motorcycle riders are up to no good, which is not true,” Bosita told Tolentino.

SBN 2555 seeks to provide fair and reasonable regulations for motorcycle riders, ensuring not only their security and safety but also of the community by amending the provisions regarding the imposition of fines and imprisonment penalties, adjusting them to a more reasonable amount and period.

The bill also proposes the installation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) stickers at the front of the motorcycle instead of the original decal plates for the safety of the riders.