By Jennifer P. Rendon
Municipalities in Iloilo’s second district still recorded the highest number of vehicular incidents in the province.
Records from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) showed that 433 vehicular incidents happened in the second district from January 1 to September 10, 2021.
The number accounts for 33.46 percent of 1,294 vehicular incidents in the province for the said period.
But Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo police chief, pointed out that the 433 vehicular-related cases are lower than the 584 incidents in the second district in 2020.
The second district is composed of the towns of Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara, and Zarraga.
Pavia posted the most notable decrease in cases – from 269 vehicular incidents in 2020 to 46 in 2021.
The town of San Miguel, which had 8 cases last year, recorded 21 this year.
Sta. Barbara also logged an increase – from 103 in 2020 to 136 in 2021.
Gorero said that their assessment showed several factors why most incidents occurred in the second district.
“The area has more access roads and convergence roads going to the airport,” he said.
Since parts of the district share boundaries with Iloilo City, the number of vehicles plying the streets is also higher.
Gorero also noted that second district has two access roads to Iloilo City.
Despite that, the overall number of vehicular incidents in Iloilo province slightly decreased by 6.24 percent.
The first district of Iloilo – Guimbal, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan – also recorded lower vehicular incidents. From last year’s 286 cases, it slightly went down to 278 in 2021.
The province’s third district – Badiangan, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Maasin, Mina, and Pototan – has higher incidents, from 259 in 2020 to 265 so far this year.
A slight increase was also recorded in areas covering the fourth district – Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Passi City, and San Enrique. From 134 incidents, the cases rose to 146 in 2021.
On the other hand, the towns in fifth district – Ajuy, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and Sara – posted a 32 percent increase in the number of vehicular incidents. From 117 in 2020, the incidents went up to 172.
Gorero noted that most of these incidents involved motorcycles at 573.
On the other hand, 549 cases involved four-wheel vehicles, 111 for six-wheeled vehicles or higher, and 70 for three-wheeled vehicles.
Around 75 percent (976 cases) of 1,294 incidents are due to reckless driving.
Driver’s error accounted for 245 cases; drunk driving at 53; mechanical trouble at 14; 6 occurred in roads that were under repair; while a lone case was due to road rage.
Gorero also noted that of the 1,294 incidents, 347 involved drivers with no license.
Most of the incidents happened between 8 am to 11 am and 4 am to 7 am.
