MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday said that it is preparing road safety and assistance measures for the anticipated surge in road travelers across the country during the Christmas season.
LTO Chief Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II noted that there has already been a noticeable increase in travelers in urban areas across the Philippines in recent days, and this may increase as Christmas Day approaches.
“Ngayon pa lang ay ramdam na ang dagdag na bilang ng mga sasakyan sa Metro Manila. Inaasahan natin na lalo pa itong madadagdagan habang papalapit ang Pasko hindi lamang dito sa Metro Manila kung hindi pati na rin sa mga urban areas sa buong bansa,” Mendoza explained in a statement.
(Even now, we can already feel the increase in the number of vehicles in Metro Manila. We expect this to rise further as Christmas approaches, not only here in Metro Manila but also in urban areas throughout the country.)
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, in a prior interview with Radyo 630, likewise warned that roads in Metro Manila are expected to become more congested as the Christmas season starts.
In response to the surge of travelers, the LTO said in its statement that it would “provide road safety and assistance” to motorists, particularly on roads leading to and from transportation hubs, including airports, bus terminals, and major highways across the country.
The LTO chief mentioned that he had ordered the agency’s regional directors to coordinate with key departments in the government to brace for the increase in motorists in December.
Mendoza added that LTO regional heads have been instructed to collaborate with the Philippine National Police and local government units to pinpoint accident-prone zones, which can help devise preventive strategies to avoid incidents like the recent tragedy in Antique.
Previously, the LTO chief instructed the agency’s enforcers to relax the implementation of its “No Registration, No Travel” policy during the holiday season.
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