The government is moving forward with plans to mandate the installation of speed limiters in all public utility vehicles (PUVs) in order to reduce accidents and fatalities on the country’s roads.
Republic Act 10916, or the Road Speed Limiter Act, was passed into law in 2014 but has yet to be fully implemented.
Meanwhile, militant driver’s groups PISTON and MANIBELA announce a transport strike from Sept 23 to 24 to protest the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP) whose implementation became effective last April 30.
According to LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz at least 82 percent of the country’s transport groups have joined the PUVMP.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Vigor Mendoza II expressed frustration over the delay in the implementation of the Road Speed Limiter law, saying that “it is long overdue.”
“We have to do something now for the interest and protection of all road users,” he said
To expedite the process, the LTO has initiated a series of meetings with government officials, transportation experts, and PUV operators to develop guidelines for the installation of speed limiters.
The first meeting was held on September 18, with representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), LTFRB, and the UV Express and bus industries in attendance.
According to Mendoza, the implementation of speed limiters will not only help prevent accidents but also improve the overall safety of public transportation in the Philippines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death globally, with an estimated 1.3 million fatalities annually. In the Philippines, an average of 32 people die each day due to road accidents.
The LTO emphasizes that the use of speed limiters is a crucial step in addressing this crisis, particularly for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. By limiting vehicle speeds, the risk of accidents and fatalities can be significantly reduced.
