TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Alarmed by the rising number of road accident deaths and the vehicular traffic accident (VTA)-related cases swamping the courts, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Tabuk City LGU have joined forces to address the long-standing problem.
They held a summit on December 10 to take a close look at the situation and plan how to best deal with it in concert with other agencies, groups and the community.
Data presented by the police during the First Road Safety Summit showed that while the VTAs from January to November had gone down by 47 incidents from the same period last year and is the lowest in the last six years for that period, the death toll already stands at 22 or five more than the 17 recorded for the entire year of 2017.
The average road deaths in the province from 2013 to 2017 was 14.
Superintendent Francisco Bulwayan, Jr., Tabuk City chief of police, said that seven of the deaths occurred in November adding that leading vehicle type involved are single motorcycles.
From January to November 2018 52 percent of vehicles involved were single motorcycles, the same type of vehicle which figured in 47 percent of the VTAs from 2013 to 2017.
The data also showed that road accidents consist the bulk of the crime volume in the province from January to November at 45 percent. This is consistent with 68 percent in 2016 and 69 percent in 2017 prompting remarks from several participants that if the VTA incidents could be minimized, the law and order situation in the province would drastically change.
The police said that the top cause of VTAs in 2018 is human error which accounts for 187 of the 213 incidents and that of this, destructive or inattentive driving leads all the other forms of human lapses at 67 of the cases.
Some participants attributed the human errors to, among others, lack of knowledge on traffic rules and basic road courtesy, lack of discipline and being under the influence of drugs or intoxicating drinks.
IBP-Kalinga President Minerva Taguinod said they were prompted to take on the road safety advocacy by the alarming number of VTA cases being filed in local courts such that in one instance, all the cases heard in a day at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MCTC) were VTAs some of which involved minors.
Taguinod commented that parents do not seem to be aware of the new regulation which holds parents responsible for anything untoward that may happen while their minor children are driving motor vehicles.
Provincial Prosecutor Bartolome Gamonnac suggested that vehicles driven by unqualified minors should be impounded and be retrieved by their parents adding that if the violation is done repeatedly, then the police should impound the vehicle permanently.
The observed practice of traffic violators mostly of motorcycles drivers of evading the checkpoints by waiting out the law enforcement team some distance from the detachment was dealt with exhaustively.
In answer to comments that if the police and other traffic enforcement agencies are really serious, then they should move in on the evading traffic violators, Police Provincial Director Romeo Mangwag said that when they do that, there is the possibility of a chase which might result in mishaps for which the police will be held liable.
There was also the clarification from Land Transportation Office District Office Chief Jennilyn Angog that the law does not allow the apprehension of vehicles which are not in motion.
With strong backing from Mayor Ferdinand Tubban who said that the solution was discussed during a recent visit of Department of Transportation and Communication Regional Director Robert Allan Santiago to the city, Mangwag committed that the Appas and Block 3, Bulanao checkpoints will be manned round the clock, seven days a week starting on December 13.
Mangwag said he will also try to get clearance for the conduct of the implementation of Oplan Clean Rider where motorcycles will be issued stickers which mean all the papers of the motor vehicle are in order thereby enabling policemen to apprehend even when the vehicles are stationary.
Mangwag also said that the police will conduct massive traffic operations which could freeze traffic on the streets to net remaining violators.
Because of the concern that traffic accidents have implications on peace and order, the IBP will conduct lectures on traffic rules in the barangays in partnership with the PNP, the Tabuk City LGU, Public Order and Safety Office, Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Tabuk Multi-purpose Cooperative and transport organizations.
Rev. Luis Aoas said that involving the barangay officials in the advocacy will make it more effective in the grassroots level.
Several members of the IBP also pointed deficiencies in VTA police investigation reports commenting these are not very helpful in the attainment of justice specially with the common belief among Kalingas that whoever is injured or killed in road accident is the victim.
In response to the issue, PNP-Tabuk City Advisory Council Chairperson Sandra Uyam informed that the Tabuk City LGU is set to hold a specialized traffic accident investigation training next year.
District Public Attorney Francis Calsiyao had also urged that law enforcers to be deputized by the LTO for traffic duties should be trained in traffic and transport laws.
MTCC Judge Victor Dalanao closed the forum with the plea that incidence of road accidents be arrested because cases of reckless imprudence resulting from these incidents are flooding the courts and most of those involved are minors.**By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
