IN THE WAKE of two tragic road crashes in Luzon that claimed young lives and shocked the nation, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 has issued a strong directive urging its personnel to ramp up enforcement of road safety measures. Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan II rightly emphasized that vigilance must be proactive, not reactive. The question now is whether this resolve will translate into consistent field action — or fade, like many well-intentioned memos before it.
To be fair, the directive is timely and grounded in urgency. Director Geduspan’s call for strict driver evaluation, proper licensing, and tougher enforcement of safety regulations echoes the national sentiment. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already ordered sweeping reforms, and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has rolled out specific mandates such as periodic drug testing for PUV drivers, stricter driving hour limits, and more stringent vehicle inspections. But lofty pronouncements are only as good as their enforcement.
The problem is not the lack of policies — it is the lack of discipline, follow-through, and consistent enforcement. For far too long, agencies like the LTO have treated their role in road safety as a bureaucratic function rather than a life-saving mission. We have seen driver’s licenses issued with little scrutiny, poorly regulated public utility vehicles on the streets, and blatant violations of speed and overloading rules go unpunished.
If LTO-6 is truly serious about preventing the next tragedy, it must start by holding its own personnel accountable. Regional directives must result in more than just reminders — they should bring about measurable change: more roadside checks, fewer unqualified drivers slipping through the cracks, and real consequences for erring operators. Discipline begins with the agency itself. Field personnel must embody the same level of vigilance they are now being asked to instill in drivers.
Moreover, the agency must foster a culture of transparency. Regular public updates on enforcement statistics, violations recorded, and actions taken can boost credibility and rebuild trust. LTO’s acknowledgment that “public trust is on the line” should not remain a soundbite — it should be a guiding principle.
The tragedies in Luzon are a painful reminder of what is at stake. Western Visayas cannot afford to be caught unprepared. LTO-6 has made the right move by issuing a directive. The harder task lies ahead: to walk the talk, every single day, on every single road.
