BAYANI FERNANDO
Bayani Fernando (born July 25, 1946) is the current Secretary of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He concurrently holds the position of director of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the National Capital Region.
He was born in San Juan, Metro Manila. He ran for public office in 1992, becoming mayor of Marikina City. His administration as mayor is credited with several cleanliness and beautification projects, and his term saw the transformation of Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model Philippine city. He was re-elected mayor twice, and served as mayor until 2001. In 2002, he was appointed chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
His wife, Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando, is the current mayor of Marikina City.
Fernando incurred the ire of members of the Motorcycle Philippines Federation and motorcycle owners all over the Philippines after insisting on the implementation of MMDA Resolution 07-07. The “Dual Motorcycle and Helmet License Plate Numbers Policy,” contained in the resolution, would require all motorcycle riders to permanently affix waterproof stickers on both sides of their helmets bearing their motorcycle’s plate numbers. The stickers should be large enough to be seen by the public at a distance of 25 meters.
He felt that by doing this, crime can be prevented since most criminals are using motorcycles, and by having plate number stickers on helmets, identification would be easy. The proposed sticker should be seen 25 meters away. This has caused an alarm among the motoring public, because doing this, it would affect the helmet as stated in every helmet owner’s manual, and it would also void the warranty. Helmets do not come cheap, a standard DOT certified helmet costs P2,000.00 up to P15,000.00. Even the Philippine National Police disapproves of this, it would only cause further confusion to the public, and as one PNP official stated, most criminals don’t wear helmets as this would affect their visibility while escaping the scene of the crime and also while under pursuit from the police.
He announced later that automobiles are the next target, he is considering of having plate numbers etched on the side panels of four-wheel vehicles, this undertaking, he thinks, would help prevent crime. This ordinance is still being studied by the Metro Manila Council and time would only tell if this will be implemented.
Motorcycle riders organized an online petition Against Dangerous MMDA Helmet Rules. On July 20, a massive protest rally was held by an estimated 5000 motorcycle riders at the MMDA offices in Makati City to protest against the MMDA policy.
The Motorcycle Philippines Federation and other respective clubs planned to stage another rally in front of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office against the plate number sticker ordinance which would have been implemented at the end of July 2007, as reported by GMA News ("Motorcycle groups rally vs helmet policy")
The plan has since been scrapped.
On December 17, 2007, Alfredo Lim told MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando not to conduct its sidewalk clearing operations in Manila since vendors were allowed to sell on sidewalks for humanitarian reasons. Lim stated: "I jokingly told Chairman Fernando that they are welcome anytime but I cannot guarantee their safety. Their problem is how they will get out."[1]
