Vice Mayor Paulo Z. Duterte scored the intermittent implementation of the city’s traffic rules after nine persons were killed and 13 others were injured when a passenger van from Moncayo in Compostela Valley and a cargo truck heading for Davao del Norte collided in Barangay Mahayag, Bunawan, this city at 5 a.m. yesterday.

“Dugay ug gikapoy na ko cge pahinumdum sa LTO, LTFRB, ug CTTMO nga disiplinahon ang mga van drivers entering Davao ug mga bus drivers ug labi na mga jeep nga Toril ang biyahe (I have reminded LTO, LTFRB, and CTTMO repeatedly to discipline the van and bus drivers entering the city, including the jeepney drivers plying the Toril route),” Duterte said.

Duterte said the traffic enforcers from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) were lax in the implementation of the speed limit ordinance.

“Karon nga naa napod nangamatay mag atik atik napod mo og dakop. Mao di madakpan ni mga van kay naay under the table sa mga traffic officers (Now that people have died you’re going to pretend you’re apprehending drivers again. The vans don’t get apprehended because you’re receiving bribe money),” he added.

“Yes that is an accusation because I have informants,” the vice mayor said.

The city finds it difficult to regulate incoming vans coming from outside Davao City

Some passenger vans are also known to modify their vehicles to accommodate more passengers.

Reports showed that the van which was carrying 18 passengers reportedly overtook another vehicle and collided with the cargo truck.

Initial reports confirm nine died.  Of the 13 survivors, 11 are in critical condition. Two were slightly injured.

Duterte said the city saw less injuries and accidents when the speeding ordinance was implemented.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Yas Ocampo

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