THE full implementation of road safety policies will be implemented next year without let up, Land Transportation Office (LTO)-9 Regional Director Aminola Abaton said last week.
This means that there will be strict enforcement of laws governing the use of helmets, early warning device and the mandatory use of seat belts as well as impounding of colorum vehicles and fly-by-night PUJs—those without franchise.
Abaton adds this campaign was not fully set straight by LTO for this year because they had to prioritize first the education and training of their personnel and other LTO-deputized members of the PNP and local and provincial traffic enforcers’ auxiliary units.
This paper also learned that the Presidential Anti Colorum and Kotong Task Force (PACKTAF), headed by Usec. Roy Quiamco, have already started their operations in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay and Pagadian City early this month.
The PACKTAF employs selected LTO, DOTC, HPG, AFP and PNP elements who will go after illegal practices such as colorum operations and mulcting.
Last May, PACKTAF’s national campaign has led to the arrest of 63 PNP personnel who have been involved with these violations and 79 other individuals from the LTO, LTFRB and various LGUs for extortion and other related crimes.
“When operations on road safety policies will be implemented in Zambosur, the driving public, commuters and motorists will not anymore worry because they have been informed and educated already,” Abaton assured.
He added that they will still set up LTO checkpoints at strategic areas on the highways around Zambonaga Peninsula and a team of road-safety personnel will be posted on an 8-hour period to ensure that colorum vehicles, those without warning devices and registrations are intercepted and impounded.
The LTO is now implementing quality management system to comply with international standards of issuing drivers' licenses.
A latest statistic obtained by this paper showed that LTO-9’s revenue collection for 2008 totaled 204,560,063, surpassing their target of 184,840,000.
REPORT BY JONG CADION