Solon wants new board to ‘regulate roadworthiness’ of cars, PUVs

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is pushing for the creation of a new board that would take control over road safety regulation of all land motor vehicles, including public utility vehicles, from the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Aangat Tayo Rep. Harlin Neil Abayon III said the board – tentatively, National Land Transportation Safety Board (NLTSB) – should have powers to “regulate roadworthiness of all land motor vehicles, cancel or suspend driver’s licenses, and investigate road accidents, and resolve administrative cases arising from road mishaps.”

Abayon stressed the need for creating NLTSB as he cited the average 300 road crashes in Metro Manila every day based on 2017 data of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

“The LTFRB system is badly broken. There are three positions there with immense powers over life and death of commuters, pedestrians, drivers, and transport operators,” the deputy minority leader said in a statement on Monday.

“We have an LTO that cannot issue driver’s licenses and motor vehicles plates on time and efficiently. The LTO also has very little enforcement presence on the roads,” the legislator added.

Abayon further said there may be a need for a permanent inter-agency committee or office chaired by the NLTSB that would collect, analyze, and frequently report to the public about road safety issues.

“The PNP Highway Patrol Group wants a special unit created for road crash investigations. I am inclined to author and file a bill establishing this new office, including its data collection functions, but there shall be coordination with the NLTSB and clarification of specific roles, with the PNP most probably assisting the NLTSB,” he said.

Abayon said he would file a proposed measure on the establishment of the NLTSB once Congress resumes session on January 14. /kga