The so-called Magnificent-7 in the transport industry is supporting the review of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of 1964 for road safety, the safety of motorists, the riding public, and pedestrians.
The Magnificent-7 is composed of Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Stop and Go, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas (LTOP).
Roberto “Ka Obet” Martin, Pasang Masda president, along with the six other major transport groups, believes that the law’s review and update as well as the integration of traffic rules and regulations as component in the basic education curriculum could help address severe traffic problems on major roads and lower the incidence of road mishaps.
Ex-Land Transportation Office regional director Aminola “Alex” Abaton, now the Partnership for Enhanced Road Safety executive director, raised concern over the increasing road-crash related deaths in the country, citing continuing intervention on education, enforcement and strategies are needed to address the “alarming” issue.
He suggested to visit and update the 1964 traffic code, the creation of a national data collection system for road crashes and practical guide modules on child road traffic injury prevention.
“I have known Abaton for more than a decade. We at the transport industry supports road safety advocacy,” Martin told reporters.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority through Col Edison Nebrija and United Nations Children’s Fund through program officer Angelito Umali vowed to support the groups’ road safety awareness and initiatives.
LTOP president Orlando Marquez, for his part, said road safety education to drivers must be inculcated to ensure safe roads for motorists and all road users.