BACOLOD City Councilor Caesar Distrito urged the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to monitor the entry of overloaded sugarcane trucks in the city.
This, after a family of four died when a 10-wheeler truck loaded with sugarcane fell on their car along the national highway of Hacienda Remy in Barangay Atipuluan, Bago City Thursday.
Killed were Romulo Espinosa, 59, and his wife Josephine, 53, both of La Carlota City, as well as their daughter Christine Sarcia, 31, and her son Vincent John Sarcia, 4.
Truck driver Herman Mahometano, 58, lost control and the truck fell on its side and hit the car.
“It was a very sad day for the family of the victims and it should be an eye-opener to our police, highway patrol groups, and traffic implementers not only in Bacolod City but also in other cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental to avoid similar accident,” Distrito said.
He said he asked BTAO head Superintendent Luisito Acebuche to monitor the entry of overloaded sugarcane trucks, especially along the Circumferential Road.
“BTAO and LTO should strictly control and apprehend the erring sugarcane truck drivers, and to enforce the truck ban," Distrito added.
BTAO has been tasked to penalize the truck drivers with overloaded sugarcane, and with overflowing truck load.
“It is already milling season and we should be vigilant to ensure the safety of motorists," Distrito said.
He said the DPWH should also repair the weighing bridge to control the load of the sugarcane trucks.
Weighbridge is a large set of scales, usually mounted permanently on a concrete foundation, which is used to weigh entire rail or road vehicles and their contents. By weighing the vehicle both empty and when loaded, the load carried by the vehicle can be calculated.
Distrito said the sugar planters should require their drivers to pick-up their overflowing load which it could cause a traffic accident.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said it is time for the DPWH to repair the weighing bridge to determine the overloaded sugarcane trucks.
He said they will coordinate with the DPWH to check the weighing bridge in various areas.