Guv urged to activate road safety task force

By: Gerome Dalipe

WITH human error being the top factor affecting road safety in Iloilo, the Iloilo Provincial Government should activate a task force that will ensure the enforcement of road safety.

Provincial Board Member Domingo Oso, Jr. has authored a resolution requesting Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr. to establish or activate the task force on road safety in the wake of rising road accidents in the Province.

“With the noted increase of road mishaps and accidents, the need to espouse and to raise the level of awareness and for the corresponding municipalities to jointly and harmoniously advocate and implement the road safety regulation in Iloilo,” the resolution read.

Recent data from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) and the Iloilo City Police Office-Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Unit (ICPO-TIEU) showed that Iloilo recorded nearly 5,000 road crash incidents.

Police said that human error is the primary factor in road crashes in Iloilo, involving driver error and driving under the influence (DUI).

Such error includes reckless driving and other inappropriate acts behind the wheel.

Local officials urged the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to be strict in issuing driver’s licenses. Those who really pass the exams should be the only ones given the licenses, the officials said.

Board Member Oso recalled that former governor Arthur Defensor Sr. even raised alarm over the increasing number of road accidents in the Province.

The former governor even issued an executive order reinstituting the Provincial Task Force on Road Safety.

The Provincial Board recently passed an ordinance creating a policy for road accident prevention and road safety awareness.

“With the increasing number of road accidents and violators, there is a need to implement Provincial Ordinance 2016-129 to lessen the number of traffic accidents and to deter violators from committing traffic offenses,” read Oso’s resolution.