By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
On January 31, I had a chance to talk to City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Christian Luyaben regarding the role of drunkenness in the unabated incidents of road accidents in the city. I recalled to him that during the February 9, 2017 City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), on the basis of the testimonies of accident responders from his office, he had confirmed the observation of the local police that majority of the drivers involved in vehicular traffic accidents (VTAs) are under the influence of liquor. He said that nothing has changed in this respect because CDRRM responders still say that strong alcoholic smell assail their noses at accident sites.
Luyaben has no doubt that less drunk driving in the city would automatically result to less VTA incidents. He confessed that during his youth, he had several road mishaps – all happening while he was under the influence of liquor. He commented that what’s even worse with drunk driving is that sober drivers could be victimized.
Among the solutions Luyaben mentioned during the interview is the maintenance of the checkpoint at Appas on a 24/7 basis. He is certain the move could reduce the number of VTAs given the facts that bulk of VTAs in the city happen on the Bulanao- Laya East road stretch along which the checkpoint is located and that the constant presence of lawmen along the road would naturally force drivers who have no helmets and are under the influence of liquor to think twice before proceeding.
This gibes with the consensus during the First Road Safety Summit on December 10, 2018. Based on the remarks of Mayor Ferdinand Tubban during the occasion, even Department of Transportation Regional Director Robert Allan Santiago who is from the city feels that maintaining the Appas checkpoint round the clock seven days a week is a right step in the right direction. The discussion on the issue ended with then Police Provincial Director Romeo Mangwag declaring that starting December 13, the Appas and Block 3, Bulanao checkpoints would operate 24/7.
But it appears that we have to wait to see whether or not a 24/7 watch at Appas and Block 3 as contemplated during the summit would have an effect on VTA incidence.
Also on January 31, I visited Chief of Police Francisco Bulwayan, Jr. to ask for updates on the planned 24/7 guarding at the two road points. He explained that Mangwag was compelled to opt for the solution due to the spate of VTAs during that time but that the situation had eased since then. He added that after some weeks of implementation, the police had found it impractical because, knowing the existence of the fixed checkpoint, drivers with violations used other roads to get to their destinations and it was only the law-abiding motorists who passed the checkpoints. Bulwayan said that because of this observation, they decided to instead conduct random checkpoints in main choke points and intersections. He said though that the 24/7 checking measure is not totally set aside as they will be resorting to it every now and then but not necessarily in Appas and Block 3.
Personally, I go with the collective thinking of the summit and of Luyaben that the 24/7 checkpoint in Appas could bring down the VTA statistics of the city. With the city police opting not to implement the decision at this time, however, let’s observe what transpires. If after sometime there is no improvement, or heaven forbid, the situation gets worse, then by all means, authorities should see to it that no traffic violators most of all drunken drivers could pass through Appas at anytime without answering to the law. **
