By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
With Christmas already upon us, vehicles plying the streets of Iloilo City are expected to increase by 50 percent, according to Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).
PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said they are also expecting traffic rule violations to spike with the upsurge of vehicles in the city.
Conlu appealed to the driving public to follow road laws and policies implemented in the city.
“Ang aton kalsada this Christmas season nagataas ang road violations so dapat sundon aton mga rules,” he stressed in a phone interview.
On Tuesday, the PSTMO, together with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Regional Highway Patrol Team 6, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a “One Time Big Time” operation on major thoroughfares of the city.
According to Conlu, majority of their apprehensions are drivers with student permits, vehicles with defective headlights and modified mufflers, and drivers who valid licenses.
“Kalabanan gid sa mga violators are those riding with student permits and ang usual man gihapon nga mga colorum, wala sang driver’s license, kag defective headlights,” he stressed.
Conlu also identified Jaro and Mandurriao districts with the most number of violators, particularly on illegal parking and driving without license.
The PSTMO chief said they will enforce the laws and policies fair and square, emphasizing that no one is above the law.
During their operations, the team impounded a Ford Mustang after its owner committed several traffic violations.
“No one is above the law. Maskin ano imo tindog sa siyudad indi ka exemptedsa aton mga polisiya sa siyudad,” Conlu emphasized.
Conlu said they plan to conduct the enforcement operations in the city on a regular basis to discipline the public.
“Ubrahan naton ni regular. Sige-sigehonnaton para maanad ang mga driver sa mga violations para
madisiplina naton sila,” he added.
