LTO-8 exec: Road safety is everybody’s concern

GOV’T CENTER, PALO,Leyte-– “Road safety is everybody’s concern,” said Region 8 Land Transportation Office Chief of Operation Division Rebecca Obenieta.

This was her reaction when asked on what LTO is doing to address the problem on commuters riding in the roof on public utility vehicles, which is so common here in the region.

The reason, according to her , why some hitchhikers and commuters choose to ride on top of passenger vehicles are the lack of transport facilities in some areas and the value of drivers and commuters.

Hitchhiking is rampant not just in the region and in the entire country but including on third world countries, according to Obenieta.

In the region, hitchhikers are rampant especially on passenger vehicles (jeepneys) with route going to nearby towns and provinces from Tacloban City.

This problem, according to Obenieta, poses a danger to vehicle passenger.

“Some passengers tend to chose to stay on top the passenger vehicles, and if you will notice it, when the vehicle is still at the terminal you will see few passengers on it but once the vehicle is outside the terminal, you will see passenger climbing to the roof of the vehicle,” Obenieta said.

This,according to Obenieta, is a violation of the anti-overloading law in the countr,y which some vehicles drivers are violating.

She added that most instances , vehicle operators are the ones who suffer from these violations as citation and violation tickets are issued to them and not the driver of the vehicle, up to the point that their permit to operate is being cancelled because of a vehicular accident due to irresponsibility of the drivers.

Although there are implementers of the law, Obenieta stressed that it is not important as some road users (drivers and passengers) are not aware of the law.

“First we should educate them, but if they continue doing it then we should fine them,” she stressed.

To recal, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte had already called the attention of the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board through a resolution to look into the matter after some board member noticed vehicle passenger riding on the roof of passenger jeepneys that puts their lives in danger.