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Palace pushes for comprehensive road safety program


Malacañang asked transport operators on Monday to cooperate with a comprehensive road safety program now being drawn up by concerned government agencies. Presidential Communication Operation Office head Herminio Coloma said Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus has met with provincial and Metro Manila bus operators to seek their cooperation in the road safety program. “Kailangan maging road safety conscious ang drivers at opisyal dahil nakasalalay ang buhay ng napakaraming Pilipino sa buses at jeep at ibang sasakyang panlupa. Nariyan ang aspeto ng safety ng sasakyan... itong maintenance ay dapat ginagawa ng bus companies para makaiwas sa sakuna," he said on dwIZ radio. (Drivers must be road safety conscious and must realize they are responsible for many Filipinos’ lives. They must be particular on road safety and maintenance)," he said. He also said the Department of Public Works and Highways must place barriers and other safety devices on roads. Coloma said the government will also assess the financial capability of public utility transport operators to pay insurance. Earlier, De Jesus said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is considering imposing a curfew for bus drivers to keep them from becoming drowsy behind the wheel. He said this can complement a proposed program requiring bus drivers to undergo random drug tests. At least two major road incidents involving buses claimed more than 40 lives in Benguet and Camarines Sur provinces last week. In Benguet on Wednesday, 42 people were killed when a passenger bus fell into a ravine in Benguet. On Saturday, Binibining Pilipinas titleholder Melody Gersbach and two others were killed when a Guevarra bus slammed into the Toyota Innova they were riding in Camarines. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Bicol already issued a suspension order against the Guevarra Bus Company. –VVP, GMANews.TV

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