DUMAGUETE CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental will embark on a campaign to inform and educate the public on the mandatory implementation of the national helmet law.
LTO-Dumaguete chief, Dr. Alberta Janine F. Lawas, on Monday said this is in response to an agreement made among her office, LTO 7 (Central Visayas), the provincial Highway Patrol Group, Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, and some city councilors and officials last week.
Lawas, however, clarified that even before the consensus was reached, her office had already begun its information dissemination on traffic laws, rules and regulations, including the helmet law, in some schools and a construction company with a huge fleet of vehicles and heavy equipment.
“Naa na kami naka line up nga mga plano nga pagamiton aron ma inform gyud nato ang atong mga tawo (We have already lined up some plans so we can inform the people),” she said.
The information drive, she added, will not just focus on Republic Act (RA) No. 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act but will also include RA 4136 or the Land Traffic and Transportation Code, as well as other laws pertaining to traffic.
“We will do this phase by phase to further inform the people about our traffic and transportation laws,” she said.
The move came as the debate on the use of helmets by motorcycle drivers and passengers continues, with many quarters still raising questions as to its “constitutionality” and “practicality,” the latter being highlighted because, as those opposed to the law say, Dumaguete has very narrow streets and motorcyclists travel mostly short distances.
Last week, Remollo and other city officials, LTO and HPG agreed to limit the implementation of the helmet law initially to the national highways.
After about two months, the law will be enforced in the city’s central district and other areas outside the national highway.
City officials have written Congress, seeking to transfer the task of implementing the national helmet law to local officials, who are more attuned to the needs and requirements in their respective areas.
They continue to seek legal remedies to prevent the full implementation of the measure but according to the HPG and LTO, they are simply mandated to implement the law and do not have the authority to repeal, amend, or do anything to change it.
Remollo reiterated several times that he is not against it “for the safety of the people” but stressed that the law should either be amended or local officials be given the power to legislate their own ordinances with regards to wearing helmets. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)