Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte has ordered traffic officials to intensify apprehensions against motorists who do not respect the pedestrian lanes after some pedestrians were reportedly hit while crossing.
Duterte, in a radio interview on Friday, September 9, called on the attention of the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and Land Transportation Office (LTO) to intensify their visibility on the roads as many Dabawenyos had been crossing the streets.
This after he received reports of pedestrians being hit while crossing in the streets for "two consecutive days."
"Gahi og ulo. Bisan unsaon. Karon palisuran tamo. Mao man inyo ginapangayo. Ihatag nako... Di man ninyo kaya disiplinahon ang inyong sarili sa dalan, ang gobyerno ang mudisplina sa inyo kay bulok mo (They are really stubborn. They cannot be disciplined. Now, we will make things hard for you since you’ve been asking for it. If they cannot discipline themselves while on the road, the government will be the ones who will be disciplining them)," Duterte said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The mayor also urged private vehicle owners to slow down whenever there are crossing pedestrians in the streets.
"Kadaghanan sa ato gabaktas gyud. Katong mga motorista na makasakay og sakyanan, katong mga pribado natong tao na makapalit og sakyanan, kung di mo kabalo mugamit og... di mo kabalo mutan-aw og pedestrian crossing, bulok gyud mo (Majority of us are walking on the streets. Motorists, especially those who have their private cars, if you do not know how to respect those crossing pedestrians, then you are stupid)," he said.
Duterte said motorists in Davao City should also practice "give and take" action towards each other.
"Gibutang nang pedestrian crossing diha para i-prioritize ang mga gabaktas... Katungod na nila kay gabaktas sila (The pedestrian crossing is intended to prioritize those crossing the streets... It is their right)," he said.
The mayor had been reiterating his call to respect the pedestrian in his previous interviews.
The city government even issued a reminder in its social media handles, reiterating motorists to be responsible while driving.
Facebook user John Wayne A. Vergar uploaded in a Facebook group a video where a woman was hit by a pickup truck on Thursday evening, September 8 along Iwha in Toril, Davao City.
SunStar Davao is still trying to get the details of the injured pedestrian.
SunStar is also trying to reach out to CTTMO, HPG, and LTO for their reaction to the mayor's order.