The Puerto Princesa City Council will hold a third and final public hearing on the proposed ordinance that seeks to prohibit the use of full-faced helmets in the city.
The last public consultation will be on June 13 at 2 p.m. at the People’s Amphitheater in Mendoza Park, according to ordinance author Councilor Rolando Amurao.
Amurao said they intend to take counsel from a large number of audience before they finally decide.
“Wala pa tayong desisyon [sa council] kaya nga in-extend natin na imbes na two public hearings lang ay ginawa na nating three public hearings at na-set natin ito doon na sa Mendoza Park para mas marami ang makapag-attend at mas marami ang marinig nating suggestions,” said Amurao.
He said it is important to him being the chairman of the City Council’s transportation committee that the public is safe and secured against motorcycle-riding criminals and people behind hit-and-run accidents.
The second public hearing was held on June 7 at the City Hall with representatives of motorcycling clubs.
Amurao explained that the common argument during this consultation was that only a full-faced helmet can give maximum safety in times of accidents.
Last week, he pointed out that the proposed ordinance will only cover the city poblacion where most of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are installed.
He added that he has made up his mind to push for the approval of the ordinance, but he still wants to hear the side of the residents of the city and also relay its benefits.
“Gusto kong ipaintindi sa kanila na ‘yong legislative measures na ina-ano (pinu-push at kino-consider natin) is para malabanan natin ‘yong riding-in-tandem incidents. Ayaw na nating may mangyari pa. Marami nang nangyari in the past. Anu-ano ba ang mga krimen na puwedeng ma-involve ‘yong riding-in-tandem? Unang-una, homicide, murder, theft and robbery, ‘yong mga pagnanakaw at snatching kasama na diyan, and carnapping,” said Amurao.
Amurao said they will take note of every suggestion and opinion of the stakeholders, yet it will still be for the City Council to decide upon how the proposed ordinance will go.
Amurao said the aim of this proposed measure is nothing less than the good of the public.
