LTO: Unified policy needed to address bus accidents

CEBU, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office-7 has urged all local government units in Metro Cebu to unite in addressing the issue of road accidents involving Ceres buses.

LTO-7 regional director Victor Caindec said that speed limits imposed by the LGUs are not observed; road congestion caused by buses, bicycles, and motorcycles; lack of bike lanes; and lack of strict implementation of designated bus stops are among the causes of road accidents.

“LTO-7 hereby concludes that a cohesive structure of how the roads are to be allocated within the various LGUs in Metro Cebu and to harmonize these policies across all the LGUs in Cebu is needed,” Caindec said in a statement, adding that there are no existing policies that address the said concerns.

Caindec admitted it is risky to allow buses and trucks on small roads. He emphasized the importance of observing Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-001 issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) setting the “Guidelines and Standards for the Classification of Roads, Setting of Speed Limits Under Republic Act No. 4136, and Collection of Road Crash Data.”

Under the joint memorandum, the relevant Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan may pass an ordinance setting speed limit for purposes of local enforcement.

“When necessary for the safety of road users, the City or Municipal Government may propose speed limits for National Roads lower than those provided,” the joint circular stated.

LTO-7 added that under Republic Act 4136, all national roads with passenger cars, motorcycles, and similar vehicles shall have an allowable speed limit of 80 kph for open road, 40 kph for through street and 20 kph for the crowded street.

It further said that motor trucks, buses, and similar vehicles shall have an allowable speed limit of 50 kph for the open road, 30 kph for through street and 20 kph for the crowded street.

Likewise, all provincial, municipal, city and barangay roads should be properly classified to set the appropriate speed limits.

“Speeding is the most important contributor to road fatalities and is at the core of the road injury as it both crash risk and crash severity. The setting and strong enforcement of speed limits are one of the most effective interventions in significantly reducing road crashes and road crash fatalities and injuries… The participation of local government units is vital in improving the level of speed limit enforcement in the Philippines,” read the JMC 2018-001.

Caindec said under the memorandum all city and municipal governments shall identify roads and stretches of roads that may be considered as “crowded streets.”

The LTO-7 director clarified that the accidents “do not indicate any defect in the structural integrity of the buses, they are presumed to be road-worthy at the time of these incidents.”

Caindec was invited by the committee on transportation of the House of Representatives, which conducted an investigation into the series of bus accidents in Cebu.

Caindec said that regulatory oversight over public transportation belongs to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) which has primary supervision and power to conduct investigations and hearings on complaints for violations of the public service laws on land transportation.

“LTO intervenes only to adjudicate over contests involving the findings of the PNP. We respectfully submit that the primary investigating agency is not the LTO nor does it exercise primary responsibility in the investigation of road mishaps,” Caindec said.

Caindec added that LTO-7 remains to be an active partner with the agencies concerned in the implementation of relevant traffic laws and road safety measures. — FPL (FREEMAN)