By Rey Anthony Chiu | 09:02 PM August 26, 2022
Camp Francisco Dagohoy, the headquarters of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) cites 8 contributory factors for public safety incidents which could stain with blood, Bohol’s road to economic recovery.
This, as the BPPO reports 1,002 crime incidents which are all punishable by special laws, largely traffic laws, anti-illegal drugs, illegal gambling, violence against women and children, and crimes punishable by laws other than the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, that have still remained as a concern, driving total crimes in Bohol up and scaring away investors.
And while the 1002 non-index crimes this year are all significantly 42% lesser with 1,739 cases logged last year, Camp Dagohoy, through Police Superintendent Cheryl Boniao named traffic related incidents as a major contributory factor to the bad mark on crime incidents.
She shared to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) that teen-age driving, reckless driving, driving [vehicles with] mechanical defects, over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving in damaged roads, premature overtaking and improper turning, as public safety concerns.
For the first time after seven months, the PPOC meeting resumes under a new leadership: governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and the strong 30 regular members.
As the PPOC looks at crimes that stir public order, crimes that threaten public safety is another PPOC concern, points out the lady deputy operations officer.
As Camp Dagohoy did not elaborate on these factors, observation would prove that teen-agers, especially those who do not own driver’s licenses, or have obtained them from spurious sources, tend to endanger the lives of other motorists when they drive recklessly.
The Land Transportation Office however is now into a transition to a more credible driver’s testing prior to issuance of licenses, and are setting up checkpoints to keep off the roads non-road-worthy vehicles, those who violate traffic laws and those who implement unnecessary vehicle modifications in the intent of upgrading vehicle performance, but are essentially making their stock vehicles tough to maneuver.
Over this too, Camp Dagohoy sources through Supt Boniao shared their planned interventions.
The BPPO intend to produce informational leaflets to raise awareness and advice on reducing traffic-related incidents.
They also planned to supply high visibility jackets to youngsters who often use the roads with poor lighting, and they will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways on street light installations to improve road visibility, road signs and accident prone areas.
Moreover, the PNP asks the Land Transportation Office for stricter regulations, the use of appropriate headlights, helmets, seatbelts, speed limits, child restraints and the strict application of penalties and sanctions to offenders. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
