DAVAO CITY – Some 484 motorcycle drivers in Kidapawan City were apprehended for not wearing helmets while using the national highway as personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and local traffic enforcers conducted a four-day intensified operations.
Aside from helment violation, the LTO also impounded 141 motorbikes for operating without registration, it is considered colorum.
Many drivers also operate motorbikes without driver’s license.
The “No Helmet, No Ride Policy” stated under the Republic Act 10054, or the Motorcycle Act of 2009 has been in placed but still many violates the law.
Moises Sernal, head of the newly organized City Traffic Management Enforcement Unit (CTMEU), in an interview with Philippines News Agency said they managed to flag down 1,285 motorcycles during the Jan. 16–19 series of traffic enforcement operations together with personnel from the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and the Land Transportation Office-Region 12 (Soccsksargen).
“At least 484 were penalized because of traveling without wearing helmets including their back riders,” Sernal said.
LTO-12 Regional Director Macario “Bong” Gonzaga, supervised the four-day operations.
Gonzaga in a meeting with Kidapawan City Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said the two agencies of government need to collaborate to ensure responsible road stakeholders have the freedom in using the public roads and safety is ensured.
For his part, Evangelista reminded the LTO-12 team “to exercise fairness in conducting the apprehension of violators.”
Gonzaga and Evangelista agreed to work together as they want that Kidapawan City will be a model for responsible road stakeholders and oublic safety.
In December last year, the city government distributed some 500 standard helmets to motorcycle drivers here.
Evangelista said he ordered strict compliance with the “no helmet, no travel” policy following an increase in motorcycle accidents in the city recently that claimed several lives.
“We have no other intention here but to save the lives of motorcycle riders for their families”, he said. -with report from PNA
