June 25, 2024 - The Land Transportation Office (LTO), headed by Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, is stepping up its road safety efforts for tricycle drivers. Assec Mendoza has directed all Regional Directors and District Office heads to conduct more intensive road safety seminars for tricycle operators and drivers.
This directive comes after the recent launch of TODA (Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) Learning Centers across the country. These centers aim to educate TODA members on road safety rules and regulations, aligning with the Department of Transportation's (DOTr) advocacy for safer roads for everyone.
"We've seen numerous viral videos where tricycles have been involved in road rage incidents," said Assec Mendoza. "We want to protect our friends in TODA by equipping them with proper knowledge on road safety."
The TODA Learning Centers will serve as a venue to educate tricycle drivers on their rights and responsibilities as road users. Recognizing the vital role tricycle drivers play in providing for their families, Assec Mendoza emphasized the importance of establishing more learning centers.
He has instructed LTO Regional Directors, District Office heads, and Extension and Satellite Office heads to initiate road safety seminars for all tricycle drivers within their jurisdictions. Assec Mendoza also stressed the need for strong collaboration with local government units (LGUs) who grant tricycle operation permits.
"Everyone deserves safe access to roads," said Assec Mendoza. "However, we need to follow traffic laws and regulations to ensure everyone's safety."
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the alarming statistics from the United Nations. According to their data, road accidents claim roughly 1.3 million lives globally each year, with 58% of these fatalities occurring in the Asia-Pacific region. In the Philippines alone, road accidents cause an average of 32 deaths daily.
To address this issue, DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista has been actively pushing for the reduction of road accidents in the Philippines. The Philippine Road Safety Action Plan, presented at the 2023 Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory Annual Meeting, outlines strategies to achieve this goal.
"Our plan to reduce road accident deaths by 35% by 2028 and by 50% by 2033 has been endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly," said Secretary Bautista. "This plan, which actively promotes road safety, is a cornerstone of our efforts."