The City Government of Davao, in partnership with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), launched on Monday the Road Safety and Road Crash Prevention Month.
LTO Davao Regional Director Neil CaƱedo, during the weekly flag ceremony, read Proclamation No. 08, Series of 2019, signed by then-Mayor and now-Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, which mandates inter-agency cooperation to remind Dabawenyos how important road safety measures are to ensure the safety of not only the riding public but also private motorists in various parts of the City.
The proclamation reading marks the kick-off of the month-long observation.
CaƱedo, in an interview, said that the proclamation was signed by Duterte on October 28, 2019, to reinforce the World Day of Remembrance of the Traffic Victims; to have month-long activities to prevent road crashes, especially for children; and continue to strengthen information dissemination and traffic law enforcement for motorists.
āMuadto ta sa remote areas, ang mga estudyante nga Grade 1-Grade 4 tudloan nato nga mulabang sa siyudad.. ug usaon paggamit sa atong pedestrian cross (We will go to remote areas, we will teach students who are in Grade 1 to Grade 4 on how to cross the streets, especially the use of the pedestrian cross),ā CaƱedo said.
He added for the motorists, their office will continue enforcing traffic laws and roadside inspections to discipline drivers, due also to the fact that vehicles that are usually involved in road crashes are four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.
āMao gyud na siya nga gina-intensify gyud nato ang campaign sa atong pagpasabot sa motorist nga murespeto pud lalo na sa bicycle lane (That is the reason why we intensify the campaign about respect for the other road users, especially on the proper use of the bicycle lane),ā CaƱedo said.
He added that the usual reasons for road accidents are illegal U-turns, illegal loading, obstruction, and lack of knowledge.
He said that the enforcement of road policies remains to be a challenge.
CaƱedo said that while the regional office only has 40 law enforcement officers, he is thankful that the city City Government of Davao augments their deployment.
The City Transport and Traffic Management Office implements the Comprehensive Traffic Code of Davao City, which prescribes traffic rules and regulations, as well as penalties for violators.
āGi-mention pud ni Mayor Baste that time nga nag-meeting mi nga respetuhon gyud ang pedestrian lane City Mayor Baste Duterte mentioned during our meeting that the pedestrian lanes should always be respected),ā he added.
He cited the case of a 9-year-old girl who died while crossing the pedestrian lane on Boulevard last September 30, 2023. He said they are currently looking for the multicab, which blocked the view of the bus driver, while the bus driver is also deemed liable for the incident.
“Gipangita nato karon ang multicab nga reason nga wala nakita sa driver but then again ang sad-an gyud ato ang driver sa bus. Karon, nagpadala na kita’g show cause order para makatubag siya sa iyang rason. Gipangita pud nato tong sa multicab tungod kay illegal gyud pud tong sa pedestrian gyud siya nag loading and unloading ( We are looking for the multicab which blocked the view of the bus driver, but then again, the bus driver is also liable. We already sent a show-cause order for him to give his answer. We are also looking for the multicab because of his illegal act of loading and unloading on the pedestrian lane),” CaƱedo said.
CTTMO head Dionisio Abude, in a media forum on October 26, said that the measures taken to avoid pedestrian lane crashes are the fabrication of plans by the office’s engineering office and the plan to install additional signages.
“Atong ginahimo, especially kadtong nahitabo sa Boulevard unang una is naa na’y ginahimo ang atoang engineering, gina fabricate karon ug ang atoang center island butangan nato to siya og “Slow Down Pedestrian Crossing
Ahead” para makita sa center island dapat gani pag gabii reflectorized para makita pud nila. (What we are doing about the incident at Boulevard is that our engineering is already fabricating a [plan for the area] and on the center island, we will install a sign that reads “Slow Down Pedestrian Crossing Ahead”. For it to be visible, it should also hopefully be reflectorized to be seen at night),” Abude said.
Abude added that they also identified dilapidated pedestrian lanes within the city and coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for their repainting.
Meanwhile, as part of the whole month’s celebration, a candle-lighting ceremony will be conducted for victims of road accidents before the month ends. The schedule and venue have yet to be announced. CIO
