AN OFFICIAL of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao said the request of the Davao City Council to suspend the prohibition on riding on the back of a pick-up truck or any pick-up type vehicles will likely not be granted because the safety of the passengers is at stake.
LTO-Davao legal officer II Lawyer Loida Igdanes, in a press briefing on Wednesday, November 27, at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, said they will continue with their operation against erring motorists who will not adhere to their rule on passenger capacity.
She said their office has already received the request of the City Council to hold in abeyance its implementation and amendment of the policy by just regulating and not prohibiting.
Igdanes said they already forwarded it to their central office but as to date, they have not received a formal response.
"There was a time na nagkaroon ng verbal instruction ang Asec na medyo dili siya ma-realize ang resolution kay kini balaod na siya and for the safety of the passenger -- mao na atoang primary concern ani kaya ana implement ni siya (Our assistant secretary said the request will not be realized because it is already a law and this is intended for the safety of the passengers)," Igdanes said.
On September 18, the LTO central office issued a directive to its regional directors to strictly implement the prohibition on the operation of motor vehicles exceeding the registered passenger capacity and on passengers riding outside of the vehicle at the space intended for cargo and freight.
Violators will face a fine of P2,000 to P3,000 and suspension of the certificate of public convenience for overloading vehicles.
This policy drew mixed reactions from motorists.
Earlier, the LTO eased the enforcement to give way for those in the rural areas, during the commemoration of Undas, and in time of relief assistance during a disaster in Mindanao. However, this time around, officials said it will continue its strict implementation of the law.
In Davao Region, LTO-Davao record showed a total of 48 pick-up type vehicles that were apprehended during their one-time big time operation after loading passengers to occupy at the space at the back of the vehicle.
In their policy, the LTO-Davao will only allow two people, provided that there are cargo and freight, which is the purpose of the vehicle.
Igdanes said the policy is intended for the safety of the passengers, noting the series of road accidents involving pick-ups.