The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Sunday, Dec. 8, that it will intensify the presence of its enforcers on the road amid an expected increase in the volume of vehicles for the Christmas season.
LTO chief Asst. Sec. Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered all regional directors and heads of law enforcement units at the local level to focus their road safety operations on truck inspections in wake of two deadly accidents in Quezon City and Parañaque last week.
The deployment of personnel for truck inspections should be done at night and in early morning when truck bans are lifted by local government units (LGUs) and when trucks are travelling on the road, he said.
“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 stated.
LTO enforcers were also directed to check on the road worthiness of trucks along expressways.
Last Thursday, Dec. 5, a truck collided with another vehicle, then sideswiped several other motorcycles on the Aurora Boulevard flyover along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Four people died in the accident while 30 others were injured.
Meanwhile, a 10-wheeler truck also mowed down six other vehicles in Barangay Sun Valley, Parañaque City on Dec. 6, leaving one people dead and five others hurt.
The LTO has issued show cause orders against the registered owners and drivers of the two trucks involved in the fatal accidents.
The driver’s licenses of the drivers were suspended for 90 days while the two trucks were placed under alarm.
While Mendoza said the LTO has the manpower to conduct inspections of trucks and other vehicles amid the expected “carmageddon” this holiday season, he urged truck owners and operators to ensure the road worthiness of their vehicles.
“This is part of their obligation to their businesses, to their clients, their personnel, and to all the road users,” the LTO chief noted.
In Metro Manila, Mendoza said 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 (PNP) in conducting checks.
In provinces, he said local LTO officials 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.
Mendoza also ordered 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,” Mendoza said.