The Land Transportation Office said it mobilized 1,700 enforcers nationwide to monitor major thoroughfares and enforce traffic laws against reckless drivers, including those who would engage in road racing, as many vehicles are expected to hit the roads during the Holy Week break.
LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said they have coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to inform the agency of any irresponsible motorists they would encounter while deployed on public roads for immediate action.
“All our enforcers are deployed in major thoroughfares to at least serve as a deterrent against reckless driving. This is part of the instruction of our Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon since the presence alone of uniformed LTO personnel will compel errant drivers to behave,” he said.
“But for those hard-headed motorists, we will surely run after you. You may be able to evade the enforcers because you drive fast, but our enforcers already know what to do in those kinds of situations to ensure you would be held liable,” Mendoza added.
While the main directive is to assist motorists in ensuring safe land travels, he said the LTO enforcers have a special instruction to monitor and document reckless drivers for the entire Holy Week break or until the travelers return to their respective workplaces after the long weekend.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. recently advised motorists to stay calm and always take into consideration the welfare of other people amid the presence of “kamote motorists” on the roads.
Dizon tasked the LTO and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to initiate all measures to prevent dangerous reckless driving and go after those who would dare to do so.
The LTO chief said they have now formulated mechanisms to strengthen accountability of errant drivers, emphasizing that a driver’s license is not a right but a privilege.
