Buses lineup inside the PITX Bus Terminal in Parañaque City (PIA-NCR file)
MANILA, (PIA) — Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza said their agency plans to adopt a warning system in all types of vehicles, particularly passenger vehicles, to ensure the safety of drivers and commuters whenever the weather is bad or there are road hazards.
Mendoza said the move is a safety measure similar to the “no-sea travel policy” implemented by the Philippine Coast Guard in water vessels when there is a tropical cyclone wind signal raised in an area.
“It is better for our kababayan to be stranded in the terminals than in the middle of the roads. That’s more dangerous,” he added, following the aftermath of typhoon Egay where roads became impassable due to landslides and floods.
The official said part of the step is regular communication and coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local disaster risk reduction management offices through the LTO regional district offices for the dissemination of information on the condition of the roads and routes of public utility vehicles (PUVs).
The implementation of the warning system is geared toward commuter vehicles such as buses and jeepneys because there are many passengers on board and it will be dangerous to travel if there are impending road hazards.
Mendoza said they will have an inventory of roads prone to landslides and flooding whenever there is inclement weather.
He added that they will also place enforcers in buses and other PUVs terminals to warn vehicles of the no-travel policy due to natural or human-induced hazards.
The DPWH earlier announced that 21 roads are still impassable due to landslides, broken bridges, blocked roads and flooding caused by typhoon Egay. (PIA-NCR)
