Donate an organ, tear up that traffic violation ticket: What can you say?

[godsaint]

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Donate an organ, tear up that traffic violation ticket

Innovative 1-day scheme takes off in Makati today

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:58:00 09/16/2008


MANILA, Philippines – An organ for a traffic citation ticket.

Under a special one-time amnesty program in Makati City, this means you go scot-free if you’re flagged down on Ayala Avenue for beating the red light or for any other traffic offense. But be prepared to donate a cornea or two.

Motorists accosted for any traffic violation in Makati will be let off the hook if they agree to fill out the organ donor slot in their driver’s license, but only for today.

The Makati City Police Department has partnered with the Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines (EBFP) for a special one-time amnesty for traffic violators on the condition that they agree to donate their eyes or other organs upon their death.

The title of the project is self-explanatory: “Ticket Mo Sagot Ko, Basta I-Donate Mo Ang Mata Mo (Your ticket is on me, as long as you donate your eyes).”

“When they are issued their driver’s license, most people just keep it in their wallets without filling out the back of the card where there’s a form for organ donation,” Makati police chief, Police Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, said.

Confirmation

At the back of the license under the heading “Organ Donation,” the card owner is asked to confirm if he or she agrees to donate an organ. The card owner is asked to check a blank square agreeing to donate “any organ,” or a “specific organ.”

“On Wednesday, we’re going to ask traffic violators to fill out the organ donation portion. If they agree, we’ll forgive their traffic dues,” Cruz said in an interview.

He added that motorists could agree to donate other organs like the heart or kidney, although they would prefer the eyes, specifically, the cornea, the clear glass-like front of the eye.

“But we’re not going to accept donations of *** organs. That’s a different story,” he joked.

Cruz said the project was in honor of Makati deputy police chief, Supt. Joven Bocalbos, who was killed by armed robbers in May last year in Quezon City. “He was also an eye donor,” Cruz said of Bocalbos.

The project is the first of a series of activities of the Makati police and the EBFP leading up to the celebration of World Sight Day on Oct. 9.

Awareness

“This innovative project initiated by Cruz will definitely heighten awareness about the value of our driver’s licenses as organ donor cards,” said EBFP president and chair Minguita Padilla.

“It is our hope that other districts will likewise come up with similar initiatives,” she said in a statement.

Padilla’s organization and the Makati police shall also enter into an agreement for Scene of the Crime Operatives to take a more active role in calling the Eye Bank and other organ donation agencies upon responding to accidents or crime scenes, where a prospective donor dies.

The Eye Bank will also hold seminars on eye disease and corneal donation and transplantation, Padilla said.

According to Cruz, all Makati policemen will be asked to fill out the organ donation form today in support of the project.

“This is one way to help the living even while we have to go about our difficult task of dealing with tragedies in the daily exercise of our duties,” he added.

[aLohaBby]

legal diay na?

[tracernet_v2]

think so... they did launch it without problems...

[ieuseerm]

Donate an organ, tear up that traffic violation ticket
Innovative 1-day scheme takes off in Makati today
By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
“But we’re not going to accept donations of *** organs. That’s a different story,” he joked.

why on earth not? hehe

[LytSlpr]

it's legal, it's your discretion.

selling blood or organs is illegal, it should be voluntarily donated.

[weeker]

Good initiative..

This is voluntary, legal and I quote "is truly one way of helping the living even while we have to go about our difficult task of dealing with tragedies in the daily exercise of our duties."

[junmar4]

if blackmail is legal, then this scheme is legal.

simple ra ni, dakop or hatag. pero aron ingnon nga nindot ug purpose, organ donation sad ilaha. By the way, donation man gud sa amoa is freely given, kanang walay kabilinggan nga paghatag.

[c_cebrecus]

of course it's legal, if you agree.. and it's still on your death..

[chad_tukes]

i personally think this is a wise move. kudos to them for coming up with this program.

[hobie]

@junmar4 ..I think it's not a blackmail, it's an offer. One has the right to refuse the offer but you'll be issued a citation ticket since you committed a traffic violation in the first place that's why you're apprehended.

I think it's a very wise move and will give awareness to a lot of drivers not filling up the back part of their driver's license, hehe that includes me. guilty. I would love to donate but haven't talked to my parents about it yet.