LTO to PUV drivers: Follow traffic rules to ensure discipline, safety

MANILA, Philippines —  Transport group leaders were urged to ensure that their members follow traffic rules and regulations to guarantee discipline and the safety of commuters.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief assistant secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II stressed that transport leaders have the authority to mandate their members to follow traffic rules that would result in easing traffic congestion and the safety of their passengers.

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“Nauunawaan natin ang hirap sa pamamasada ng ating mga kapatid sa PUV sector subalit meron tayong mga batas trapiko na dapat sundin para hindi tayo makaabala at hindi magresulta sa anumang aksidente lalo na ng ating mga pasahero,” said Mendoza in a statement on Tuesday.

(We understand the difficulty our brothers in the PUV sector face when driving, but we have traffic laws that must be followed so that we do not disturb others and cause any accidents, especially for our passengers.)

“Hindi pwede na ang mga pasahero ang masusunod kung saan sila bababa at sasakay. Bilang mga tsuper, makakatulong din tayo sa panawagan ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. na magkaroon ng disiplina ang lahat ng road users,” he added.

(We can’t just follow passengers’ orders on where they want to get off or board. As drivers, we can also listen to the call of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. for all road users to have discipline.)

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Last Sunday, Marcos called for motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations alongside the modernization of public transportation.

In response to this, Mendoza vowed that Marcos’ call would be backed by the visibility of the LTO’s enforcers to ensure that proper loading and unloading of passengers are observed.

The agency will also make sure that bicycle lanes are exclusive to their intended users, he added.

“Patuloy tayong makikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga LGUs, MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), at sa Philippine National Police upang tiyakin ang disiplina sa daan dahil ito naman ay para sa kaligtasan ng lahat,” Mendoza said.

(We will continue to coordinate with our LGUs, the MMDA, and the Philippine National Police to ensure discipline on the road for the safety of all.)

The LTO National Capital Region said on February 16 that it apprehended a total of 3,510 traffic violators in January this year.