CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the City Government here led by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez voluntarily surrendered their vehicles' blinkers and "wang-wangs" (sirens) following the example set by President Benigno Aquino III.
City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao told Sun.Star Pampanga that city officials have started surrendering the blinkers and "wang-wangs" Monday.
"We have surrendered the blinkers from my van and Mayor Oca's. We have to follow our President's verbal instructions. These wang-wangs and blinkers are abusive. Many end up victims," Caylao said.
He assured that vehicles caught with blinkers and sirens have to be removed or face sanctions as specified by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
"The Chief of Police will coordinate on this matter. As officials, we have to follow traffic rules no matter what government position you have. This only excludes ambulances. It is unfair lalo na sa mga nakalinya sa daan tapos mao-overtake lang," he said.
Meanwhile, Rebbeca Tutoc, secretary of the Barangay Sta. Lucia council denied a lot of vehicles with "wang-wangs" are freely traveling around the village.
"No. Actually we haven't caught or seen any vehicles with wangwangs. We don't have any operations yet. Probably, we just need a letter from the Department of Interior and Local Government or the Mayor's Office. We can also open this issue on the session with our captain (Benerito Aldana) by the end of July," she said.
As this developed, LTO officials here have intensified their campaign on violators of PD 96. Last week, LTO law enforcement agents have set up checkpoints in implementing the ban on sirens and blinkers.