LTO to intensify ‘road presence’ in time for holidays

As the number of vehicles on the road is expected to grow, more traffic enforcement personnel will be deployed in time for the holidays.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II ordered the agency’s regional directors and heads of law enforcement units to increase their road presence.

According to Mendoza, the presence of LTO personnel helps in deterring accidents on the road.

“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,” Mendoza was quoted as saying.

“Our intensified measures in terms of enforcement of traffic laws is in line with the instruction of DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista to ensure the safety of all road users,” he added.

For the National Capital Region, the LTO shall augment the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the local government’s traffic units as well as Philippine National Police personnel manning the roads.

According to the LTO chief, its officials in the provinces were ordered to coordinate with local government and police forces to assess how the agency can help with the traffic flow especially in densely-populated 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 (Many of our compatriots will also go to their respective provinces to be with their loved ones this Christmas and New Year, including students because their Christmas breaks are about to begin),” Mendoza noted.

“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.

Further, Mendoza also tasked regional directors to continue surprise and random inspections on passenger buses.

He also ordered for the deployment of personnel on usual truck routes in Metro Manila and other areas across the country.

“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,” Mendoza explained.

He said LTO enforcers presence to check on the road worthiness of trucks should also be done along expressways. Part of the inspection, he mentioned, are on-the-spot drug tests on drivers.

Relatedly, he also urged truck owners and operators to ensure that their units are working properly.  “Ito ay bahagi ng kanilang obligasyon sa kanilang negosyo, sa kanilang mga kliyente, kanilang mga tauhan, at sa lahat road users (This is part of their obligation to their business, to their clients, their staff, and to all road users).”

“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,” he added.

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