By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On Sunday, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered all regional directors and heads of law enforcement units to intensify road presence amid the expected increase in the volume of vehicles for the Christmas season.
The LTO chief also tasked traffic 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 stressed that the deployment of personnel for trucks should be done at night and in the 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 [truck’s] brakes are working,” Mendoza said, urging truck owners and operators to ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles.
This is followed by the immediate deployment of several LTO enforcers along major roads and truck routes, especially in Metro Manila, which Asec Mendoza cites as a deterrent to road accidents and erring motorists.
“Our visibility on the road is important, especially that we expect the increase of motor vehicles on the road on the days leading to Christmas and New Year,” said Mendoza.
In Metro Manila, Mendoza also said the LTO personnel will augment the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the traffic units of the LGUs, 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.
Asec Mendoza also tasked regional directors to continue conducting surprise and random inspections on passenger buses in order to ensure the roadworthiness of the vehicles as thousands of people are expected to flock to bus terminals for the Christmas break.
-av