Enforcement of new road rule suspended anew

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office has suspended anew the implementation of the “No registration, no travel” policy, which was supposed to take effect yesterday, November 10.

LTO-7 Director Arnel Tancinco said LTO Asst. Secretary Alfonso Tan was the one who informed him through a text message that the policy will not be implemented just yet.   “This is due to the request of manufacturers and dealers who we are continuously talking to,” Tan’s text message reads.

LTO was supposed to implement the rule early this year but implementation was moved to October 16. It was moved again to November 10. There is no word yet as to the next schedule of enforcement.

“LTO is discussing readiness of its implementation and issues raised by stakeholders,” Tancinco said earlier.

The “no registration, no travel” policy is in line with the implementation of the Joint Administrative Order number 2014-01 (Revised schedule of fines and penalties for violations of laws, rules and regulations governing land transportation) of the Department of Transportation and Communication, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board and the LTO.  The JAO implementation itself met opposition from various transport groups and stakeholders nationwide.

DOTC is currently reviewing the JAO.

Romeo Armamento, national vice president of the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Central Visayas said many drivers reportedly chose not to travel yesterday precisely because of the scheduled implementation of the policy.

“As early as 8 a.m., nagtoo ang mga pasahero nga naay welga kay gamay ra mga jeep ning biyahe kay nahadlok nadakpan sa LTO,” Armamento said.

“Nagtoo man mi nga i-implement gyud karon ang no registration, no travel policy. Unya og manakop ning LTO, bisan rehistrado pa ang sakyanan, mangita lang gihapon na sila og violation sama sa guba-on nga suga unya P6,000 ang multa ana. Mao nang daghan mga jeep ang wa ni biyahe,” Armamento added.

The rally last last October 28 in Metro Cebu was the third initiated by the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide-Cebu to express their opposition to the JAO. The first protest rally happened last June 19 and crippled 30 percent of the public transport, while the second rally last September 30 failed to paralyze transportation.

Piston head Armand Perez said that JAO- 2014-01 imposes a new set of fines they deem unjust and excessive.

Aside from their opposition to the JAO, Perez said they will also express their opposition to local ordinances they deem inconsiderate to drivers. They are referring to Cebu City's Ordinance 801 and 2207, which impose "excessive" fines when drivers violate the city's traffic code.  (FREEMAN)