Kalinga road accidents up; CCTVs mulled

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Alarmed with the high number of vehicular traffic accidents the past  eight  months of this year, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is mulling to  include in the 2014 provincial budget funds for installation of electronic gadgets along roads to monitor traffic violations.

SP member Gelacio Bongngat, chairman on transportation and communication committee, considered the recommendation of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office for installation of closed circuit (CCTV) cameras along provincial roads saying “It’s high time to go hi-tech in saving lives and properties”.

The KPPO during the recent SP committee hearing recommended  the installation of CCTV cameras along thoroughfares to  help monitor traffic violations  that may help prevent occurrence of vehicular traffic accidents.

The police also pushed  for the enactment of local ordinances  regulating  vehicles speed limits and use of lanes, and the tasking of barangay tanods to help enforce traffic rules and regulations.

Bongngat told participants during the committee hearing they would enact an ordinance limiting the speed limit of vehicles plying provincial roads and to assign a separate lane for agriculture machineries like “kuliglig” and bicycles.

Supt. Reynaldo Pasiwen, Tabuk city police chief, had  reported 126 vehicular traffic accidents (VTAs) from January to August this year with  May-July registering  the highest number of VTAs.

The report also noted VTAs resulting to physical injuries as highest with 74 victims.

Among traffic management jurisdictions, Tabuk also has the  highest with 91 cases followed by Rizal with 18 and 11 in

Pinukpuk.

Most of such accidents happened from May to July during the opening of classes from 6 to 5 a.m. when  students rush to school and when they are dismissed from 4 to 5 p.m. 

During the meeting, police were tasked to lead campaign for 24-hour safe traffic.

Board members Camilo Lammawin Jr. and Macoy Diasen also urged police to maintain checkpoints to deter road accidents but appealed that such should be friendly before the eyes of the public and visitors.

Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Alexander Castaneda said adequate signs were installed in highways and volunteered to install street lights on national roads within the city.

The Department of Interior and Local Government will  tap barangay tanods in  enforcement of traffic rules.

It will also spearhead information, education, communication (IEC) drives in colleges regarding road safety and traffic rules and regulations.

The committee will also coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education  to require tertiary schools for stricter policies on students using motor vehicles going to school.

On the other hand, Jenilyn Angog, Land Transportation Office chief, was  asked by the committee to work with the Tabuk City government to require motor companies to process registration of vehicles in the province for close monitoring and to help the city in  revenue generation.