On the first day of the implementation of the “Anti-Distracted Driving Law” or RA 10913 and RA 10666 or the “Act Providing for the Safety of Children Aboard Motorcycles”, MMDA Traffic Constable Marlon Banban, who manned his post in the busy Araneta-Cubao EDSA, said that it was a 98 percent success.
“Since 5 a.m. pa kami dito, halos isang private at isang public lang ang nakita ko, mukhang sumunod ‘yung mga motorista, sa laki ba naman ng penalty kasi P5,000 sa 1st offense, P10,000 sa 2nd, P20,000 sa 3rd, at revocation ng driver’s license sa 4th violation (We’ve been here since 5 A.M. and apprehended only one private car and one public utility vehicle. Seems like motorists are following the new law; who wouldn’t? With a high penalty of P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the 2nd, P20,000 for the 3rd, and revocation of the license on the 4th).”
TC Marlon Banban gave a warning to a GrabTaxi driver with his phone on the dashboard, telling the driver to put the phone away more discreetly, while he reminded a van driver as well to put the dashcam behind the rearview mirror.
In Kalayaan Ave., near the Quezon Memorial Circle, QC-DPOS Traffic Enforcer Domingo Huerta was very happy to see less motorcycles with kids and/or babies in tow by riding in tandem.
“Nakatulong po, kasi karamihan ng aksidente dito ay dahil sa cell phone; mga private or motor na kundi makabanga, e sila ang mabanga. Bago pa naging batas ang RA 10666, e madami ang dumadaan dito. Ngayon since 6 A.M. na nag duty ako, wala pa ako nakita (Obviously, the new law helped. Most accidents here are caused by drivers being distracted by using their cell phone. And before the RA 10666 law, a lot [of motorcycles with multiple riders; kids] pass through here. I’ve been here since 6 A.M., and I have not seen one yet).”
Another enforcer, Chito Barido, told News5-InterAksyon that they will strictly implement the law. “Hindi naman ningas kugon ito kasi Republic Act na nga (We won’t just enforce it at the beginning, because it’s already a Republic Act).”
Click and watch the video report of News5’s Renz Ongkiko below:
