LTO: More enforcers to assist in traffic management for Christmas season

LTO to conduct more road safety ops this Christmas Season

Christmas Season rush seems to come early this year as all major roads are in a traffic gridlock almost everyday. With the high vehicle volume on the streets also come the high probability of accidents or mishaps. For the Land Transportation Office (LTO), work never stops as it will be fielding more personnel to assist in traffic, as well as enforce traffic laws of the land.

“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 LTO Chief, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II.

Mendoza has ordered all regional directors and heads of law enforcement units at the local level to intensify road presence amid the expected increase in the volume of vehicles for the Christmas season.

Specifically, Mendoza tasked LTO 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. Mendoza also said the deployment of personnel for trucks should be done at night and in 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 brakes are working,” said Mendoza.

He said LTO enforcers' presence to check on the roadworthiness of trucks should also be done along expressways.

In Metro Manila, Mendoza said the LTO personnel will augment the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the traffic units of LGUs, as well as the personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Many of our fellow Filipinos will be going home to their respective provinces to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their loved ones, including students who will begin their Christmas breaks… Our job is to ensure that they are safe on their way to the provinces and back to normal days come January next year. And this could be done through our intensified visibility that will prevent road accidents,” added Mendoza.