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Paraw Regatta and motorcycle race
Motorcycle enthusiasts here in Iloilo have long been lobbying that they be given the chance to show off and explore their talents through the conduct of racing competitions. Unfortunately our local government officials are not supportive of this endeavor. They do not allow motorcycle racing primarily because they think it is dangerous and it may cause accidents.
However, haven't our officials realize that if they will give full support to this activity the accidents they are afraid of could be avoided? There are indeed hazards in every sport but if the necessary safety measures are in place the probability of an accident could be minimized or avoided.
Take the case of the yearly Paraw Regatta Festival being supported and fully endorsed by the city government and the tourism department. Paraw regatta or sailboat race is also dangerous if the necessary safety measures are not in place. It is even more dangerous than the motorcycle race as the sailboat crew could drown and become lost in the middle of the sea. Bu,t how come for a long period of time the Paraw Regatta has survived? Well, it is because of the full support of the local government and other agencies concerned. Various government agencies are mobilized to ensure the success of the sailboat race. Men from the Philippine Coast Guard and other rescue volunteers are deployed all over the area covered by the route of the race to secure the participants. On the shore medical team are on stand by for any untoward incidents and policemen and barangay tanods take charge of the crowd control as other activities are held while the sailboats are still at sea.
If the same preparations and cooperation by the local government are employed in the conduct of the motorcycle race then our officials could not say that the activity is dangerous or prone to accidents. Instead of outright denial of permit for the conduct of motorcycle race our officials could have talked it out with the organizers on what safety measures to employ for the activity. If they have done it for Paraw Regatta and other sports activities I don't think they could not make if for the motorcycle race.
Accidents happen anytime, yes, but it can be avoided with the necessary safety precautions. In the case of motorcycle race, for sure the organizers know very well how to protect the riders. They know as well the capabilities of the motorcycles they are riding. What is only needed is to make sure that the spectators are confined to areas relatively far from the race track, in other words there is a need for a crowd control. And this is where the support of the local government is needed. Remember the Dumangas drag race incident? If there was proper crowd control nobody could have died. See, nothing happened to the car rider, it was the spectators who put themselves in danger as they didn't follow the instruction that they should stay in a safe area.
Motor sports is a worldwide craze. There are people who simply love the thrill and the excitement of it. In fact, some countries became known to the world because of motor sports. It's sad that our local officials prevent the discovery of new talents or names in the world of motor sports. Who knows the next finest rider is just around the corner. How can we explore the abilities of our young motorcycle enthusiasts if we prevent them from expressing themselves?
Have we successfully prevented motorcycle accidents because we don't allow motorcycle racing here? Definitely not. Since they are not allowed to conduct safe racing, motorcycle enthusiasts resort to guerrilla racing usually at night resulting to accidents. Why can't our officials allow this kind of activity so that there will be no more hiding? Definitely, in allowing motorcycle race we could not only satisfy the riders but also give more awareness to motorcycle enthusiasts on the proper and safe use of motorcycles. We could even make motorcycle race as a come-on for tourists and visitors here in Iloilo. Besides, the activity could also be a source of amusement tax for the city. We hope our city officials, especially those involved in sports, will realize the positive side of motorcycle racing. Instead, of limiting or prohibiting such sport what is needed is support to make it safe and at the same time benefit the community. On the political side (which most of our officials consider every time they sponsor events) the number of motorcycle enthusiasts (read: voters) in Iloilo and in the entire country could not be ignored. Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. even saw the benefit of supporting this group by being part of the Peace Caravan staged by various motorcycle organizations all over the country.
Indeed, just like the Paraw Regatta motorcycle racing could also be a tourist attraction for the city.