In a virtual hearing of the House Committee on Transportation via Zoom on June 30, Congress called the attention of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the shortcomings in implementing the country’s ‘Speed Limiter Law’ that mandates the installation of speed limiters on public utility vehicles (PUVs).
During the hearing, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino Biazon quizzed regulators about implementing provisions of RA 10916, or the “Act Requiring the Mandatory Installation of Speed Limiter in Public Utility and Certain Types of Vehicle” that was passed in 2016.
The LTO admitted that due to some technical difficulties, the agency had encountered problems in determining the specifications of the speed limiter to be installed in PUVs.
“It’s not that we are not implementing, what I’m saying is that medyo natagalan ang pagbili namin because of the different models and specifications and in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Hinanap po natin kung anong magiging batayan para sabihin, in fact even the calibration of the speed limiter,” says LTO assistant secretary Edgar Galvante.
The LTO official also said the agency had to take into account the varying speed limits on various national roads.
The lawmaker expressed worry since the law has been in effect for four years already.
“Medyo worrisome yung situation kung ganon because we have this law, but it is not properly implemented. We are expecting na ipinasa yung batas para maiwasan yung overspeeding ng mga public utility vehicles and other vehicles and this is just a big concern,” Rep. Biazon remarked.
Under the law, public vehicles must have speed limiters installed as requirement to register with the LTO and apply a franchise from the LTFRB.
“I think moving forward, there should be something done to compel the LTO and other agencies to properly implement this law,” Rep. Biazon furthered.
When asked about the percentage of bus companies that are compliant to what is prescribed in the law and how many have been registered without compliance, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III failed to present appropriate data.
However, he said that the different speed limits between EDSA and the expressways were among the among the concerns of bus operators, adding that there is “the issue of the device to be used that will be confirming to the speed limit of the road network where the buses may pass.”
The Congress’ Thursday hearing tackled land transportation policies during post-enhanced community quarantine, particularly on tricycle, back-riding, and motorcycle taxi operations, as well as the proposal to temporarily extend the vehicle registration process to two years.