Ban on blinkers, sirens — another ‘ningas cogon’?
WIKIPEDIA defines “ningas cogon” as a characteristic representing an initial burst of enthusiasm or effort that gradually wanes or fizzles out over time. It is a cultural trait in Filipino society, describing the tendency to begin tasks or endeavors with fervor and energy, only to lose momentum or abandon them prematurely.
The Office of the President recently released Administrative Order (AO) 18 prohibiting government officials and personnel from using sirens, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices. The order stated that “the unauthorized and indiscriminate use of sirens, blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices has been rampant, causing traffic disruptions, and unsafe road and traffic environment.”
The Philippine News Agency reported that the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) seized 1,707 sirens, blinkers and other prohibited devices nationwide from March 25 to April 22, 2024. AO 18 was issued on March 25 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Would this be another classic case of ningas cogon?
Past history
Fifty years ago, then-president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued Presidential Decree (PD) 96 declaring unlawful the use or attachment of sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and other signaling or flashing devices on motor vehicles. He deemed that the use of such devices “constitute a major problem in the maintenance of peace and order.” He signed PD 96 on Jan. 13, 1973.
Fast-forward to 2010. In his June 30, 2010 inaugural speech, thenpresident Benigno Aquino III said: “Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang di wang-wang sa kalsada? (Have you ever endured traffic just to be overtaken by a self-proclaimed road king with sirens blaring?)”
Right after that statement, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced the cleanup of “wangwang.” On July 4, 2010, ABS-CBN reported that the LTO confiscated some 50 wang-wang users in its crackdown. When Aquino left office, the use of wang-wang surged, particularly with private citizens and police-escorted foreigners.
Previous write-ups
AO 18 focuses on government personnel, whereas PD 96 applies to all motor vehicles. Given this, can we rely on the PNP-HPG to fulfill its mandate when it appears to be one of the primary violators?
Here are some of my previous writings on this subject:
“Our material resources do not give us power over the powerless. However, some entitled individuals consider themselves VIPs and flaunt it publicly. Take for example, a silver Toyota HiAce Grandia using plate number DAJ 202x, which recklessly traversed Macapagal Avenue on August 3 [2022], complete with two motorcycle-riding police escorts with matching sirens and blinkers. It turned out, based on LTO records, that the vehicle belonged to … a private corporation involved in food franchising. The same thing happened on September 7, but this time, involving a white limousine with plate number BEX 16x.”
“I now demand the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to explain to the public why these policemen are escorting private individuals. Is this not against the law? It does not help the PNP in its image building if this practice continues unabated. Every time these escorted private vehicles shoo away ordinary motorists, the PNP is becoming more and more cursed. We should wear black, not only for the common motorists who obey the law, but also for the PNP who abet disobedience of the law.” (The incumbent PNP chief, as of this writing, is no longer Azurin).
“Emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks, need sirens to make loud warning noises, which in turn signals to the other drivers to give way to an emergency situation. Fine. How about for those vehicles transporting those who are in power, those who have powers and those who are power trippers? Their drivers and passengers should be apprehended [and] detained, and their expensive vehicles impounded. The use of sirens and similar gadgets for nonemergency vehicles is forbidden. Why can’t they be stopped? Even the police are in cahoots with these ‘entitled’ people. The Philippine National Police even provides motorcycle-riding cops to escort these ‘chosen children of God.’”
“While the rest of us ordinary mortals are stuck in traffic, these ‘son-of-a-gun’ people are parting the motorists like the Red Sea. Of course, to the detriment of us without police escorts or loud sirens. On September 11 [2019], at [about] four in the afternoon, I was driving along United Nations Avenue in Manila and was stopped upon reaching the traffic lights at the corner of Roxas Boulevard (near the United States Embassy). A black sports utility vehicle (no conduction sticker), with front plate number JUN22A and rear plate number MCX 388x, was racing on the westbound lane of Roxas Boulevard. It was escorted by a motorcycle cop with sirens blaring. Why is this happening? Why is this permitted in the first place? Are the MMDA and PNP officers blind to these?”
Penalize them
It has been 50 years since the issuance of PD 96. Yet here we are, still confronted with the same situation.
Under PD 96, repeat offenders of this decree “shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for six months and/or a fine of 600 pesos. In addition, the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle on which the unauthorized gadget or device herein mentioned is installed, mounted or used shall be canceled or revoked.”
That fine’s amount is outdated, considering its age. It should be revised to be more stringent and serve as a stronger deterrent to potential violators. I haven’t come across any instances where a motor vehicle’s certificate of registration has been canceled or revoked for such an offense.
Why is that? Perhaps due to the trait of ningas cogon, where initial enthusiasm wanes over time.