AMID all the negative publicity surrounding the holding of the Bohol Loop 2024 recently, allow me to stress some positive ramifications of the event, in the light of the pronouncement of President BBM for the DILG to run after colorum operators nationwide.
The unfortunate vehicular accident in Sikatuna that resulted in the death of one female minor underscored one perennial problem in the outlying towns of the province, as well as in other provinces – the practice of driving motor vehicles without driver’s license and the operation of motor vehicles that are not registered with the LTO is rampant.
Another glaring problem is the lack of initiatives from many LGUs to address this problem.
Try going to the different towns and you will right away notice young children openly driving motorcycles. Because they are still young, then obviously they don’t have Driver’s License. Aside from this, these minor drivers are also not wearing protective helmets.
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What will happen when there is a vehicular accident involving these children?
Kay way helmet, doble ang ka-delikado kon matumba o mabanggaan.
Kay way lisensiya, bisan pa og gibanggaan ang minor nga driver, way mahimo kon modangop sila sa balaod kay driving without license per se is already an offense. Mogawas nga sad-an gihapon ang bata bisan siya maoy gibanggan.
Mosamot ka-grabe kon wa pod rehistro ang ilang gisakyan.
Ang nakapait ra ba usahay kay wa pay lisensiya, wa pod helmet, mao pa ang kusog kaayo mopadagan, nga morag way kukahadlok ma-disgrasya.
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So, what is the positive result of the vehicular accident during the Bohol Loop 2024?
It is hightime for LGUs to look into this problem.
I know of some LGUs that have enacted legislations relative to the implementation of local traffic laws, specifically the wearing of protective helmets.
Suway og drive og sakyanan nga way helmet sa maong lungsod and you can right away expect apprehension by the police or the barangay tanods.
At first, there were many apprehensions and imposition of fines. Later, nakabantay na ang mga local residents nga seryoso ang LGU, ang mga local motorists na ang nagseguro nga mosunod na gyod sila sa gimando sa ordinansa.
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We can also replicate this example in the province.
Dili na lang ta maghulat nga duna pay disgrasya nga moabot usa pa ta molihok. Now, yes, now is the time for action.
LGUs can make illegal thru an ordinance the following acts or omissions – driving or operating motor vehicles without driver’s license or with expired driver’s license, driving or operating motor vehicles that are not registered with LTO or with expired registration papers, and the other acts that are prescribed under the traffic law of the country like the wearing of protective helmets.
This way, the LGUs can ensure that only those who are authorized by law can drive or operate motor vehicles.
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I appreciate the initiatives of the personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the city to reach out to the different schools and demonstrate basic fire-fighting techniques and live demos.
I witnessed how they teach the students to behave when there is fire, how to evacuate and what to do while the firefighters are battling a raging fire.
I also witnessed, and learned a lot in the process, the “process” of putting off fire from an LPG, either from the burner or from the LPG hose.
Including of course the proper way to operate and use a fire extinguisher in case of fire.
One basic idea is to use common sense in case of fire, instead of abandoning or leaving the fire scene outright, it is better to analyze the situation first because there is a lot to do to control the onset of fire.
Imbes mag-panic, the better way is to see or check if duna pay mahimo aron ma-control ang pagkuyanap sa kalayo.
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Of course, I am aware that there is a whale of difference between watching a fire-fighting demo, under controlled circumstance, and an actual fire.
In an actual fire, anything can happen. Split-second decision is the rule, and sometimes, there is no room for long contemplation or analysis.
Kasagaran nga atong makita kon dunay dakong sunog, mga taga-BFP ray busy og patay sa kalayo, while ang mga tawo malingaw lang magtan-aw ug maghulat og unsay sunod mahitabo. Ang uban busy kaayo og kuha og video nga morag nagtan-aw sila og makalingaw nga panghitabo ug dili lang gani motabang og gunit sa water hose.
Of course, duna pod uban nga busy pod mamunit sa mga pwede pa magamit nga mga butang nga wala pa masunod or giitsa gikan sa taas kay dad-on sa ilang balay aron pahimuslan sab nila. Pangawat ang tawag ani kon gitapok kini sa tag-iya unya gikuha nila aron dad-on sa ilang balay.
Tungod kay busy kaayo og pamantay, makababag na hinuon sa mga trak sa bombero nga busy og hakot og tubig aron pagpatay sa kalayo.
That is the sad reality.
