(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte met with transportation officials and several others on Wednesday, Sept. 18, after a private truck fell into a ravine in South Cotabato, killing 21 and injuring 14 others.
The Department of Transportation said on Thursday, Sept. 19, that President Duterte himself urged the strict implementation of road safety checks during the meeting with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Senator Bong Go, Land Transportation Office Chief Asec. Edgar Galvante, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chair Martin Delgra III, Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon, and officers from the Philippine National Police.
The DOTr said an executive order on this will be out soon.
According to the DOTr, the President gave specific instructions to intensify roadworthiness checks, improve driver’s licensing requirements, implement periodic drug testing, and financial capability checks for operators.
For the first, the DOTr said the President directed the immediate roadworthiness inspection of Public Utility Vehicles and the conduct of regular inspections in PUV terminals, and pushed for the urgent nationwide implementation of the PUV Modernization Program.
“Modernization of public transport is non-negotiable,” Duterte said in the DOTr statement.
According to the DOTr, Duterte also noted that private vehicles used beyond their legitimate purpose should be banned, and operators who do not have the financial capability for safety improvements should cease to operate.
Duterte added driving a motor vehicle should require a minimum IQ level, and that drug tests should be made mandatory for drivers to reduce the risk of accidents.
“The loss of lives due to crashes is too unacceptable. We already have good roads but there are a lot of ignorant drivers,” Duterte said, ordering the police to pursue criminal cases against drivers involved in road crashes.
He also recommended a study on the imposition of minimum imprisonment sentences to erring drivers involved.
Tugade, for his part, vowed to improve road safety through roadworthiness checks through the Motor Vehicle Inspection System, comprehensive driver training and education under the “Tsuper Iskolar” Program with TESDA, and improved driver’s licensing requirements using the IT system of the LTO.
“Sa utos ng ating Pangulo, sisikapin naming masiguro na tanging mga roadworthy vehicles lang ang bibiyahe sa kalsada, at lahat ng driver ay may sapat na kaalaman at disiplina sa pagmamaneho,” Tugade said.
