Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered all regional directors and heads of law enforcement units at the local level to intensify road presence amid the expected increase in the volume of vehicles for the Christmas season.
Image from the official Facebook Page of LTO Central Office
Specifically, Assec Mendoza tasked LTO enforcers to focus the road safety operation on trucks through deployment of personnel on usual truck routes in Metro Manila and other areas across the country.
He said the deployment of personnel for trucks should be done at night and in early morning, the time when truck bans are lifted by the local government units (LGUs) and the time when trucks are usually travelling the road.
“The checking should be random and unless there is a violation, they should always be reminded to exercise caution and ensure that the brakes are working,” said Assec Mendoza.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II
He said LTO enforcers presence to check on the road worthiness of trucks should also be done along expressways.
The LTO earlier issued two show cause orders against the registered owners and drivers of the two trucks in two fatal accidents in Quezon City and Parañaque City. The driver’s licenses of the drivers were suspended for 90 days while the two trucks were placed under alarm.
Assec Mendoza also urged truck owners and operators to ensure the road worthiness of their vehicles: “Ito ay bahagi ng kanilang obligasyon sa kanilang negosyo, sa kanlang mga kliyente, kanilang mga tauhan, at sa lahat road users.”
In compliance, several LTO enforcers were immediately deployed along major roads and truck routes, especially in Metro Manila.
Assec Mendoza explained that the presence of LTO law enforcement personnel is a good deterrent to road accidents as the LTO vehicle and uniform themselves are compelling even the erring motorists to behave.
“Our visibility on the road is important especially that we expect the increase of motor vehicles on the road on the days leading to the Christmas and New Year,” said Assec Mendoza.
“Our intensified measures in terms of enforcement of traffic laws is in line with the instruction of DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista to ensure the safety of all road users,” he added.
In Metro Manila, Assec Mendoza said the LTO personnel will augment the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the traffic units of the local government units, as well as the personnel of the Philippine National Police.
He said local LTO officials in the provinces were tasked to coordinate with LGUs and local police forces to determine how the agency would assist in the traffic flow especially in urban areas.
“Marami din sa ating mga kababayan ang uuwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya para makasama ang mga mahal nila sa buhay ngayong Pasko at Bagong Taon, kasama na dito ang mga estudyante dahil mag-uumpisa na ang kanilang Christmas breaks,” said Assec Mendoza.
“Our job is to ensure that they are safe on their way to the provinces and back to normal days come January next year. And this could be done through our intensified visibility that will prevent road accidents,” he added.
Assec Mendoza also tasked regional directors to continue conducting surprise and random inspection on passenger buses in order to ensure the road worthiness of the vehicles as thousands of people are expected to flock to bus terminals for the Christmas break.
Part of the inspection, he said, is the conduct of surprise and random drug testing to the drivers.
“We appeal to our partners in the transport sector to ensure that their units and their drivers are physically and mentally fit in doing their job as we expect a significant increase in the number of motor vehicles and commuters on the road,” said Assec Mendoza.
Press Release from LTO Central Office
