LTO chief says deploying more men sans gears imperils them

CEBU, Philippines - Having more traffic personnel ensuring that the speed limit is observed at the South Road Properties without giving them the appropriate equipment is “putting them in harm’s way.”

This was the response of Land Transportation Office-7 Officer-in-charge Arnel Tancinco to the request of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who called on the LTO and the Department of Public Works and Highways to help make the South Coastal Road a safer thoroughfare and not a “killer road,” particularly by helping implement the 40 kilometers per hour speed limit.

 “Based on my experience and knowing your resources, it is more dangerous to implement that speed limit without equipment.  You will be deploying your people and putting them in harm’s way,” said Tancinco during the 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel yesterday.

He was referring to an earlier advice he gave to City Traffic Operations Management Operations Chief Jonathan Tumulak as regard the speed limit at the SRP.

He also said that under the Local Government Code, regulation of streets, including the setting of speed limits in national highways, is devolved to local government units.

Tancinco said that while LTO is mandated to support LGUs in all manner pertaining to the use of motor vehicles as far as regulation is concerned, there is a need for everyone to sit down first and assess together the situation.

“I don’t believe nga moingon lang ta nga resources ang gikinahanglan or manakop ta. For me, coming from that agency nga nag-supervise sa traffic management, sa ako lang nakat-onan and experienced, we need to sit down and look at the whole package, what is acceptable, what is viable for implementation, what is needed,” said the former CITOM executive officer.

Rama made his request to LTO and DPWH a day after five people died at the SPR Sunday after their car encroached into the opposite lane and collided with a prime mover.

The mayor wanted DPWH to set up additional road measures, like the installation of more lampposts along the freeway and placing speed control measures like rumble stripes, reflectorized road markings, and flashing “caution” lights.

He also said LTO personnel should augment CITOM enforcers already deployed and keeping watch over the SRP 24 hours a day. — (FREEMAN)