LTO to public: Report use of sirens and blinkers of gov’t, private vehicles

Sirens, blinkers, flashing lights. INQUIRER.net stock photo

MANILA, Philippines — The public must report government and private vehicles illegally using sirens and blinkers, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) urged Thursday.

In a statement, the agency said concerned citizens may send a message to the agency’s “Aksyon on the Spot” mobile number at 09292920865 if they ever come across vehicles unlawfully using such devices.

READ: PNP to impose stricter guidelines vs illegal use of blinkers, sirens

They may also report online scammers who impersonate the LTO in sending fake traffic violations, the LTO added.

“Matagal na po tayong nagpa-plano na magkaroon ng isang reliable hotline ang inyong LTO bilang tugon sa direktiba ng ating DOTR [Department of Transportation] Secretary Jaime Bautista na lalo pang paigtingin ang road safety measures dahil nga sa mga nangyayaring road rage at kampanya na rin natin laban sa mga colorum vehicles,” said LTO chief and Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, as quoted in the statement.

(We’ve long been planning to have a reliable hotline for LTO in response to the directive of our DOTR Secretary Jaime Bautista to further strengthen road safety measures due to the incidents of road rage and our campaign against colorum vehicles.)

“Subalit lalo pa po nating itong pinamadali nang maglabas ng kautusan ang ating Pangulo Bongbong Marcos na laban sa iligal na paggamit ng sirens and blinkers para magkaroon ng reliable na platform ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang mga reklamo laban sa mga sumusuway sa kautusan ng ating Pangulo,” he added.

(But we expedited this further when President Bongbong Marcos issued a directive against the illegal use of sirens and blinkers to provide a reliable platform for our countrymen to file complaints against those who violated the President’s directive.)

READ: Marcos bars gov’t officials from using blinkers, sirens

The LTO chief was referring to Marcos’ administrative order prohibiting all government officials and personnel from using sirens, blinkers, and other similar devices, noting it causes “traffic disruptions and unsafe road and traffic environment.”

The directive, however, exempts responding fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.