ILOILO City – Within one month, more than 4,000 traffic violators were caught by the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) under its “Oplan Hilway Dalan” – an intensified campaign against erring drivers.
IPPO director Colonel Roland Vilela said they have accosted a total of 4,082 traffic violators from Aug. 10 to Oct. 3, noting the prevalence of traffic accidents in the province which killed 72 people since January this year.
“We noticed that there’s an increase of crime rate in Iloilo, so I directed my men to intensify their operation,” said Vilela.
The violators were issued tickets and were fined, as prescribed by Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, said Vilela.
Vilela noted that most of the apprehensions include violations of municipal ordinances.
“I advise the drivers to drive slowly to avoid accidents, especially buses and passenger jeepneys kasi buhay ng pasahero nyo ang dinadala nyo,” the province’s top cop stressed.
Under “Oplan Hilway Dalan,” cops conduct checkpoints and intensify the enforcement of ordinances.
Most of the violations recorded were driving without the use of helmet.
A week after Vilela assumed office on September 1, he also posed a 24-hour challenge to his chiefs of police to accost at least 10 traffic violators per police station. The exercise was able to accost 497 traffic violators.
“One of my priority thrusts is relentless law enforcement so we will continue our operations daily,” he said.
Recently, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., directed police and local government to create a task force to ensure the enforcement of road safety.
Meanwhile, Provincial Board member Domingo Oso Jr. also authored a resolution requesting Defensor to establish or activate the task force on road safety because of the increase of road mishaps because of fast driving.
Part of the resolution said, “with the noted increase of road accidents, the need to raise the level of awareness and for the corresponding towns to jointly and harmoniously advocate and implement the road safety regulation in Iloilo.”/PN
