ILOILO City — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6 revoked the driver’s license of June Paul Valencia, the driver of a sports car which hit and killed an elementary school principal and his teacher wife on June 15 on the Sen. Benigno Aquin Jr. Avenue in Mandurriao district.
In a resolution dated Sept. 3, LTO regional director Roland Ramos stressed that the revocation is perpetual pursuant to Chapter III, Section 27 of Republic Act 4163 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
“A closed-circuit television footage of the accident clearly shows that the Mazda (MX5) vehicle driven by (Valencia) was speeding towards the pedestrian lane (and) without any caution bumped the two pedestians and even overshot a white pickup traversing the same direction,” read part of Ramos’ order.
The hit resulted to the instantaneous death of Joe Marie Osano, principal of La Paz II Elementary School, and wife Alnie Dinah, a Master Teacher at Ticud Elementary School also in La Paz district.
LTO cited Section 42 Paragraph C of Republic Act 4163 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) which states: “The driver of the vehicle upon a highway within a business or residential district shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing such highway within a crosswalk, except at intersections where the movement of traffic is being regulated by a peace officer or by traffic signal.”
The June 15 accident prompted Mayor Jerry Treñas to revive the stalled intelligent transport or traffic system proposed as early as 2017 by then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as a long-term solution to traffic congestion and vehicular accidents.
But since this could not be instantly realized, Treñas bared easily implementable short-term solutions such as putting up grills from the spot where the couple was hit up to SM City Iloilo to prevent pedestrians from crossing the avenue; putting rumble strips a few meters before and after pedestrian lanes; duty hours of traffic aides must start early – 5. a.m. instead of the current 8 a.m.; and for all pedestrian lanes on the avenue to have traffic aides ready to assist pedestrians.
“If there is a need to increase the penalties against those who do not follow traffic laws and ordinances, we would recommend such to the city council,” said Treñas./PN
Sakto na may mga driver gid man nga gago wala naga respito sang pedestrian dapat sina sa ila dakpon kag multahan. Sa mga driver kong makita nyo pedestrian lane mag pundo anay kamo kong ang light naka red kag mag hitay indi nga maka drive gani sang high end nga salakyan daw sa hambog dayon wala pili tanan kinahanglan pagsunod sa patakaran. Bisan ang plate number mo 8, 16 or ano man dira nga protocol plate number.