ILOILO – Each month an average of 10 persons die in vehicular accidents in this province, data from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) showed.
“We must do something to stem the rising statistics on vehicular accidents and deaths,” stressed Police Colonel Roland Vilela, provincial police director.
To date since Jan. 1 this year, the IPPO already recorded 102 road mishap fatalities.
According to Vilela, most of the vehicular accidents involved motorcycles but there were also passenger jeepneys, private vehicles and taxis, among others.
Apprehending persons not licensed to drive and unregistered vehicles were ways to address the problem, he said.
“We intend to remove all illegal vehicles and unauthorized drivers from our highways,” stressed Vilela.
He also agreed that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) deputize IPPO policemen to enforce traffic laws.
For two days, Oct.15 and 16, LTO trained 150 policemen in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.
The training was held in Camp Sumagaysay in Santa Barbara town, the IPPO headquarters.
The 150 cops came from 42 towns and the component city of Passi.
Last month, according to Vilela, police units under the IPPO were able to apprehend 4,010 traffic violators.
The top violations of motorists, he said, were driving without a license, not using seatbelts, failure to carry or having expired Certificate of Registration of vehicles, and not wearing helmets (for motorcycle riders).
Early this month, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) in Iloilo of the Philippine National Police appealed to drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations.
From January to September over a hundred vehicles (including motorcycles) have been issued with notices of violation by the HPG’s Provincial Highway Patrol Team – Iloilo.
All must follow Republic Act (RA) 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, stressed Police Executive Master Sergeant Pedro Pericon, officer in charge of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team – Iloilo.
RA 4136 is the law on traffic violations, traffic management and traffic enforcement. It also gives mandate to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to “get rid of all illegal parkings and traffic obstructions along the highways.”
Pericon said the Provincial Highway Patrol Team – Iloilo goes around and checks roads and the traffic situation in Iloilo city and province.
Yes, he said, there are indeed “pasaway” drivers.
Pericon observed that what’s mostly lacking among drivers is awareness on the proper use of public roads.
“Indi man tanan pero may mga drivers kulang gid ‘ya sang education with regards sa paggamit sang karsada. Like may ma-overtake sa solid line which is indi puede. Pag-abot sa city may ‘Slowdown’ sign pero sige or wala sila naga-respond. May ‘No Parking’ sign pero naga-park gid,” lamented Pericon./PN
