THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will impose fines on public and private vehicle drivers who will not comply with health protocols aimed at preventing transmission of the novel coronavirus.
In a Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, June 1, LTO operations division OIC MJ Paras-Leynes said drivers of privately owned vehicles are not exempted.
“Ang pribadong sasakyan po ay kasama doon sa guidelines na ipinapatupad ng DOTr at ng LTO, mas stringent lang ang requirements natin sa mga public utility vehicles pero sa private pati sa mga government vehicles mayroon din tayong sanitary protocols na sinusunod,” said Leynes.
“Mayroon po tayong mga itinalagang mge enforcers para i-check at i-monitor ang compliance sa mga road protocols na ito for transportation,” she said.
According to Leynes, measures that private and public vehicles need to follow include wearing of face masks and gloves and passenger volume of only up to 50 percent of capacity.
“Doon po sa mga hindi tutupad sa ating mga sanitary measures katulad ng pag-suot ng facemask at ng gloves, ma ch-charge po sila ng reckless driving under our existing schedule of fines and penalties,” Leynes said.
“Mayroon din pong violation of physical distancing measures ‘yun pong mga lumalabag din sa limitation on the passenger capacity kasi 50 percent lang po ‘yung allowed even doon sa mga private po,” she said.
“Kung may violation po diyan sa overloading where they exceed the maximum allowable number of passengers, mayroon din pong equivalent na fine,” she added.
Both public and private drivers are also required to have an authorized person outside residence (APOR) pass.
Drivers who are caught without the APOR pass will be penalized for driving without a valid license. This is part of the safety precautions adopted by LTO based on the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
“Also doon sa mga drivers na hindi classified as authorized person outside residence, ma ch-charge po sila ng driving without a valid license,” Leynes explained.
“Iyon din pong mga utility vehicles na dapat ay kumuha ng special permit to operate, pag ‘di sila kumuha noon at sila ay nahuli mayroon din silang karampatang fine,” she said. (SunStar Philippines)