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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon announced sweeping reforms to address the country’s road safety system, which he described as “broken,” following a string of accidents that made Filipinos no longer feel safe on the roads.
“People do not feel safe on our streets. That is the sad reality. And I've been directed by the President to act and to fix it. And that is what we will do,” Dizon said in a press conference on Monday, May 5.
“This is the true justice that we can all give, that the government can give to the 12 people who have died these past few days. And to all others who have also died or been injured by road accidents in the past,” he added.
On Labor Day, a speeding bus plowed into four vehicles along Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), leaving 10 dead and 37 injured.
On Sunday, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) rammed into the entrance of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, resulting in the deaths of two people, including a toddler.
Dizon said these fatal accidents could have been avoided if not for the dire state of the country’s road safety system.
“The system is broken…we have to admit that to fix it,” the official said.
“And iyon po ang totoong hustisya na ibibigay natin as mga pamilyang namatayan para hindi na tayo matakot sa sarili ating kalye,” he added.
(And that is the true justice we will give to the families of the victims, so that we no longer have to live in fear on our own streets.)
Dizon admitted that while there are rules to assess the roadworthiness of public utility vehicles (PUVs), such as buses and jeepneys, these are always never properly enforced.
The failure to maintain the capability of PUVs to carry passengers has been attributed as a major reason for road accidents.
As such, Dizon said he has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and LTO (Land Transportation Office) to ensure these checks are genuine and strictly enforced.
Both agencies are tasked to enforce measures aligned with international standards.
With the imposition of new rules, the government may look into outsourcing to bolster the present fleet of motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS).
The DOTr chief also acknowledged that there are crucial lapses in tests for the license application of drivers.
For instance, applicants can merely bribe examiners for answers in written exams, while drivers of large vehicles such as trucks are often limited to a simple back-and-forth maneuver.
“Kailangang totohanin na, wala na ‘yung padulasan, buhay [nakasalalay] dito eh,” he said.
(It needs to be taken seriously now, no more bribery, lives are on the line here.)
Dizon is likewise pushing for the full implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 10916, or the Road Speed Limiter Act, which requires the installation of speed limiters on several vehicles, including PUVs.
He pointed out that since the country only relies on a single supplier for speed limiters, there needs to be an “open free market” where every manufacturer who complies with the agency’s standards can also supply.
To strengthen the aforementioned reforms further, Dizon supported a proposed measure creating a public transport safety board.
He said this board will be the primary agency overseeing the safety of the public transportation system on land, air, and sea.
Moreover, Dizon said the license of motorists who are found to be abusive on the road will automatically be suspended, even without investigation or hearing, as long as there is a video recording.
He also pleaded with netizens to refrain from taking advantage of tragedies by posting explicit videos online, asking them to sympathize with the victims.
“We need to make the people feel safe on our roads again because they do not feel safe,” said Dizon. “The President has demanded action, and all of us here will act.”
