ILOILO – To address the rise in road crashes in Oton town – including incidents involving minors – 82 high school students completed a free theoretical driving course under the provincial government’s road safety campaign.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Provincial Task Force on Road Safety (PTFRS), forms part of Iloilo’s broader effort to reduce road accidents through education, enforcement, and engineering.
Oton has been flagged as a high-risk municipality, with 268 road crash incidents recorded in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Authorities said many of these accidents occurred near residential areas and major roads, with several involving young individuals.
Held on June 9 at Oton National High School, the seminar was organized in partnership with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6, Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO), and the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Iloilo, as part of the Brigada Eskwela program.
Participants received essential instruction on traffic rules, safe driving habits, and road courtesy. The completion of the seminar earned students a certificate that qualifies as a requirement for obtaining a student driver’s license from the LTO.
“This is not just about compliance. It’s about saving lives and instilling responsibility in our young drivers before they get behind the wheel,” said Cornelio Salinas, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
Among the resource speakers were LTO Region 6 administrative officer Ryan John Apalacio, Driver’s Skills Rater Bernard Bacay, LTO Digital Media and Public Information Officer Geronimo Dalipe, and IPPO Investigation Chief Aldren Lamera.
Also present were school and local government representatives who underscored the urgency of tackling youth-involved traffic incidents.
The PTFRS said it will continue holding similar activities in other high-risk municipalities in Iloilo as part of its intensified campaign to promote road safety among young people./PN
