CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Interior and Local Government 7 has made an exemption on its memorandum discouraging local government units from using cargo trucks to transport people.
In an interview, DILG 7 Director Pedro Noval told The FREEMAN that cargo trucks can still be used during emergencies.
“If there was no available vehicle to use during emergency we can use the truck but it should not be overloaded,” Noval said.
Noval earlier issued the memorandum after a dump truck owned by Barili town overturned during a funeral, killing 10 passengers and injuring dozens last Thursday. Noval said he issued the order precisely to avoid the Barili incident from happening again.
Mayor Michael Rama said the other day he would not comply with the memorandum because especially in mountain barangays, using cargo trucks is much safer than motorcycles-for-hire or “habal-habals.” Rama said he would still allow the use of the city’s cargo trucks to transport people, particularly those from mountain barangays where transportation is scarce.
He said the city still uses its cargo trucks to fetch stranded passengers during transport strikes.
Noval, for his part, said the cargo trucks and motorcycles-for-hire have their own advantages and disadvantages, but it is the Land Transportation Office, the agency that safeguards the welfare of passengers, that has authority to assess and determine the roadworthiness of either vehicle.
This week, LTO will enforce applicable laws that prevent local government units from using dump trucks in transporting passengers.
Yesterday, during the burial mass for those who perished in the incident, Rev. Fr. Dennis Voltron opined that the accident was not the fault of the driver, Alwin Bayno, and that local government units should not be prevented from using dump trucks to transport people.
“Dili angay nga naay diriktiba sa pagamit sa truck kay mao ra na’y kahimanan nga magamit sa mga residente matag karon ug unya,” Voltron said.
He said that in times of grief, one should learn to forgive and leave the matter to the court to revolve. “The wheels of law must continue rolling on and on,” he said.
Last Friday, Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas said the town has more or less 30 vehicles. All vehicles were confirmed to be in good condition after inspection.
Mariñas said the town will heed the DILG directive, but may still use dump trucks during emergencies.
Mariñas is also hoping that the provincial government will provide them with 4x4 or 6x6 vehicles that they can use for transportation instead of dump trucks. — (FREEMAN)