BACOLOD City – The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) aims for “zero tubo” campaign or absence of sugarcane spillage on the highways of Negros Occidental.
Provincial HPG chief Captain Robelito Mariano last week said the move is a way to curb accidents and ensure that roads are safe during the milling season.
He added trucks traveling to sugar mills will be required to cover their cargo with canvas to prevent cane spills.
Data provided by Mariano showed that from August 2018 to July 4 this year, they were able to apprehend 254 violators of the canvas cover requirement in Negros Occidental.
The milling season usually starts in early September and ends in June. The period between now and August is still off-milling or dead season in the sugar industry.
“We hope that once the milling season opens, we won’t see any cane spills on the roads that sometimes cause accidents,” Mariano said.
HPG-Negros Occidental also recorded a total of 4,303 apprehensions under the “Oplan: Disiplinadong Driver-Balik Disiplina sa Kalsada” and other clearing operations from August 2018 to July this year.
For obstruction or illegal parking, there were 975 apprehensions; defective lights and accessories, 954; seatbelt law violation, 801; not carrying official receipt/certificate of registration/driver’s license, 383; failure to display temporary plate, attach plate and sporting of more than one plate, 286; and absence of canvas cover, 254.
Also, for illegal change of body design/change of color, 285; illegal attachment of LED bar/lamp/blinking lights, 165; helmet law violation, 122; reckless driving/violation of anti-destructive driving law, 26; and unregistered motor vehicle and motorcycle, 26.
Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in the operations for wanted persons involved in carnapping and 45 for other crimes in 2018. This year, three have been arrested for carnapping and 12 for other crimes. (With a report from PNA/PN)
