SAN CARLOS, Negros Occidental — In a bid to enhance public safety and prevent crimes facilitated by the concealment of identities, the City of San Carlos in northern Negros Occidental has enacted a ban on the use of full-face motorcycle helmets within the city proper.
According to Philippines News Agency, the decision, formalized through Executive Order (EO) 89, amends a previous order and now mandates the use of half-face helmets for riders in the urban center.
EO 89, which revises Section 1 of EO 86, was released over the weekend, and its enforcement began promptly on Monday, with the San Carlos Component City Police Station setting up checkpoints at strategic locations to oversee compliance. The initial EO 86 had entirely lifted the helmet requirement in the city proper, but the updated order specifies that while full-face helmets are prohibited in these areas, half-face helmets are permitted and encouraged to ensure rider safety while addressing security concerns.
Mayor Gustilo clarified the scope of the helmet regulation, stating that full-face helmets must be removed upon entering the city proper but are required when traveling from certain areas outside the city limits, such as from Sancaville Subdivision in Barangay Rizal, from City Hardware, and from Kalingling Bridge, towards the city.
Law enforcement officials manning the checkpoints have been instructed to ask all motorcycle drivers and passengers to remove helmets, bonnets, or masks as part of the compliance check. Additionally, a speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour has been imposed within the city proper to further enhance road safety and crime prevention efforts.
The mayor's initiative to amend the motorcycle helmet policy stems from observations that many crimes in the area were committed by individuals exploiting full-face helmets to conceal their identities. The new regulations aim to strike a balance between ensuring the safety of motorcycle riders and facilitating the identification of individuals to deter criminal activities within San Carlos City.
MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday defended the Philippines' activities in Bajo de Masinloc, asserting that these actions do not escalate tensions in the South China Sea nor violate international laws.According to Philippines News Agency, Bajo de Masinloc is recognized as a high tide feature and a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos, affirming their rights within the 12-nautical mile territorial sea and the broader Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The DFA's statement comes in response to remarks made by China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang, who criticized the Philippines for conducting joint military exercises and patrols in the area. Zhang accused the Philippines of provoking regional instability and violating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea by involving external countries in the dispute.
The DFA reiterated the Philippines' commitment to supporting and protecting its citizens' rights to fish in these waters, emphasizing that such activities are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award. This award, resulting from a case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013, invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, marking a significant moment in the ongoing maritime disputes in the region.
As tensions persist, the DFA's clarification highlights the Philippines' stance on ensuring its sovereignty and jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc and surrounding seas, amidst complex geopolitical challenges in the South China Sea.