Dangerous Trucks On Philippine Roads

On this blog I have written about trucks with faulty brakes and overloaded trucks both of which are a cause of major accidents. Now, the LTO says they have busted 22 trucks and public utility drivers for driving with worn out tires. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/1/11/more-trucks-apprehended-for-using-worn-out-tires

Land Transportation Office (LTO) enforcers apprehended 22 truck and public utility vehicle (PUVs) drivers after random inspections conducted in Metro Manila roads revealed that they were using worn-out tires.

LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said show cause orders will be issued against the registered owners of the trucks and PUVs for them to explain why they should not be penalized for violating road safety regulations.

He said the two-day operation started on Jan. 7 and also resulted in the apprehension of 12 motorists for using unregistered motor vehicles and 51 others for various offenses that include reckless driving, not wearing a helmet, and driving without license.

“The focus of the operations are trucks and passenger utility vehicles because of the incidents of road accidents involving these types of vehicles,” said Mendoza.

“We will sustain these operations in order to ensure the compliance of all motorists. It is important that our personnel are visible on the ground because they compel erring motorists to behave," he added.

At least four truck-related road accidents happened last month, including the fatal Katipunan flyover multiple vehicle collision that resulted in the death of at least four people. At least 25 others were injured.

Since then, Mendoza ordered the deployment of LTO enforcers along truck routes in Metro Manila. 

More than 21 SCOs were also issued to truck owners last month after their trucks were found to be overloaded and using worn-out tires.

Mendoza explained that trucks with worn-out tires and overloaded trucks are prone to road accidents, and a combination of both out road users at risk. 

Mendoza said their operations also include other road safety rules and regulations to compel motorists to behave. 

“For several times, we have been urging motorists to be disciplined and to do what is right. We express gratitude to the majority of our motorists who are law-abiding citizens,” said Mendoza.

“And for the few who are hard-headed, our enforcers will be there to implement road safety rules and regulations,” he added. 

This is of course nothing new. Trucks in the Philippines tend to be very old and in bad condition. Just think how many drivers were not caught. These apprehensions were only in Manila. One has to extrapolate this number and multiply it greatly to get a sense of how many truck drivers are plying the roads in unsafe conditions. 

Mothers, Don't Let your Children Play in the Street

It's a wonder that thousands of children don't die every single day in the Philippines. The amount of Filipino children left to their own devices to wander the neighborhood and play in the street is rather large. Add to that the many terrible drivers plying the roads and tragedy is just waiting to happen. 

Cue this story.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/metro/931158/2-kids-run-over-by-taxi-in-caloocan-1-dead/story/

Two boys were run over by a taxi while playing in the middle of the road in Barangay 187 in Tala, North Caloocan on Thursday, leaving one of them dead. 

According to Darlene Cay’s report on "24 Oras" on Friday, the victims were 5 and 6 years old, and were cousins.

CCTV footage showed that the taxi driver positioned his vehicle as he was about to make a turn to Dalia Street, where the children were playing. It can also be seen in the footage that the driver was signaling from inside the vehicle for the kids to get out of his way. 

A girl went to the victims to tell them to get off the road. But before the boys could stand up, the vehicle suddenly moved forward towards the street, running over the children. 

Two boys aged 5 and 6 are playing IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. A taxi pulls up and signals for the boys to move so he can make a turn. A girl runs up tp the boys, taps them on the shoulders, and tells them to get out of the road. But they don't move. Instead the taxi, rather than making sure the road was clear, pulls forward and runs over the children.  

The driver stopped but he did not immediately reverse the taxi as the victims remained pinned under the front wheels. 

The 6-year-old victim “JC” was able to crawl away from the taxi, but his 5-year-old cousin “Ismael” was in critical condition. The latter was rushed to the hospital, but he later on died. 

“Hinahanap niya papa niya, ‘papa, papa.’ Sabi ko, ‘Anak, papunta si papa,” said Ivy Espina, Ismael’s mother. 

(He was looking for his papa as he uttered, ‘papa, papa’. I told him, ‘Son, your papa will arrive soon.’) 

“Mga ilang salita lang siya sa akin, sabi niya madilim daw paningin niya, wala raw siyang makita,” said Robert Mangunay, the victim’s father. 

(He only had a few words to say to me. He told me that his vision is dark and he cannot see anything.) 

The parents said that they were inside their home to repair a washing machine, which is their source of income when the incident happened. They already talked to the taxi driver. 

Meanwhile, JC is still in the hospital after suffering broken bones and several bruises. 

“Naaawa ako siyempre. Masakit bilang ina na ganun ang nangyari sa anak ko,” said mother Jamaica Pascual. 

(I feel sorry for my son. It pains a mother to know that such a thing happened to her child.) 

Where were the parents that they couldn't look after these boys? In the house repairing a washing machine. Was there no one to watch the boys? Did they not have a gate or a door that could lock so the boys would not go outside? What's more likely is that these boys are always playing in the middle of the road along with the rest of the neighborhood children. It's no big deal because drivers always look out, right? 

The mother's comments are hilarious. She should be pained and ashamed that she allowed her son to play in the middle of the road. She did this to her son. I feel sorry he has a mother such as her. 

The taxi driver was brought to the traffic center of North Caloocan, but was released as the families of the victims have yet to file charges against him. 

“Nag-insist yung family na mag-desistance kaya walang choice ang investigator natin kundi i-release yung suspect. Kinakailangan kasi ng family yung immediate assistance, kaya siguro nag-decide sila na mag-areglo.” said P/Capt. Nelson Dizon of the Philippine National Police Caloocan North Police Station. 

(The family insisted on desisting so the investigator had no choice but to release the suspect. The family could be in need of assistance that’s why they decided to make arrangements with the driver.) 

But Ismael’s family said that they would push through with the filing of a case if the driver would not take accountability for the incident. 

“Kapag hindi nila inano, hinarap yung problema nila, itutuloy namin yung kaso sa kanila,” said Mangunay. 

(If he will not face the problem, we will continue with the filing of the case.) 

GMA Integrated News reached out to the taxi driver for comment.

And there it is. 

This taxi driver ran over two children, killed one of them, and THE FAMILY HAS TO FILE CHARGES!!! Where is the justice in that? Where is the local prosecutor? Why didn't the cops file homicide charges? Because the family might want to settle with the driver. As long as you pay for the funeral you can get away with vehicular homicide in the Philippines. 

True, another story says this:

Cacho, a resident of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, is now under police custody.

Police said appropriate charges will be filed against the taxi driver at Caloocan City Judicial Office.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/27/5-year-old-boy-dies-after-being-hit-by-taxi-in-caloocan-1

But the Manila Bulletin story was published 3 hours before the GMA article making it more authoritative.

This is just another story highlighting the lack of justice in the Philippines as well as the lack of good parenting. 

Picture of the Week: This Gate is Closed

 This gate is closed for vehicles. 

But...is it?

Obviously not! There is no guard here. Cars and people can go as they please. No one cares about that sign. 

10-Wheel Truck Runs Over Three Year Old Girl

Here is another article about the results of the bad driving habits in the Philippines. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/4/19/three-year-old-girl-dies-parents-injured-in-bacolod-accident

A three-year-old girl was killed while her parents were injured after their motorcycle was hit by a 10-wheel truck on the circumferential road in Barangay Villamonte here on Tuesday, April 18.

Injured were Jude Jett Areglo, 40, of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, and Sheila Mae Niem, 23, according to the police.

Based on initial investigation, a truck driven by Jemmy Panes of Victorias City was tailing the motorcycle driven by Areglo.

The motorcycle was able to cross the road before the red light, but Panes allegedly beat the red light, leading him to hit the motorcycle.

Areglo lost control over the motorcycle and they all fell to the ground.

The truck then ran over the child that resulted in her immediate death.

Police are preparing the filing of charges against the truck driver, who is detained at Police Station 4.

Having observed how traffic operates in the Philippines two things can be assumed here, one of them for sure based on the article. First of all it is doubtful anyone on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet. I have seen so many families piled dangerously onto motorcycles with no one wearing a helmet. It is dangerous and simply not worth the risk. The motorcycle is not a family vehicle.

Yes it is illegal in the Philippines to ride with children on your motorcycle if their feet cannot reach the pedals. 

Section 4. Prohibition. – It shall be unlawful for any person to drive a two (2)-wheeled motorcycle with a child on board on public roads where there is heavy volume of vehicles, there is a high density of fast moving vehicles or where a speed limit of more than 60/kph is imposed, unless:

(a) The child passenger can comfortably reach his/her feet on the standard foot peg of the motorcycle;

(b) The child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle rider; and

(c) The child is wearing a standard protective helmet referred to under Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known the "Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009."

https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2015/ra_10666_2015.html

Can a three year old's feet reach the foot pegs os a motorcycle or grasp around the waist of the driver?  NO!!  She should not have been on the motorcycle and her parents are not free from blame for her death. But will they be prosecuted? Doubt it!

Second of all the article tells us that the truck "beat the red light" which led to him hitting the motorcycle. That means he sped up at the yellow instead of hitting his brakes. I have seen that happen so many times it is ridiculous. Trucks will keep plowing through the light AFTER it has turned red. It's a wonder that these accidents don't happen every day. 

But they do happen. And it's high past time police patrol the roads and enforce the traffic laws. From R.A. 6975 which set up the PNP and lays out their duties we read:

Sec. 35 (B) (8) Traffic Management Unit. – Headed by a Director with the rank of chief superintendent, the Traffic Management Unit shall enforce traffic laws and regulations.

https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1990/ra_6975_1990.html

So, why aren't the cops patrolling the roads and enforcing the laws?

Wheel Theft Prevention

There is simply no trust in the Philippines. Everyone is viewed as a potential thief. That's why every house has a fence and a dog or dogs. That's why when you order a pizza with a credit card they have to bring a machine to you instead of taking the number over the phone. And I am pretty sure that lack of trust explains the following two pictures.

Why else would anyone place pieces of wood against their car's wheels except to prevent theft? Not everyone does it but the fact that at least these two people have indicate either there is a problem or they think a problem might arise. If one wants to live in the Philippines they have to think like a thief in order to prevent themselves from being a victim.

Sugarcane Truck and Car Accident

Traffic was backed up and moving slow and I couldn't take it any longer. My destination was just up ahead past the next light. At this speed I figured I walking would be faster so I said, "I'm going. Just meet me up there." Because there are no sidewalks I was forced to march on the edge of the road squeezed between traffic and businesses. Motorcycles attempted to sneak on by. One false move and I could have been squashed.

Finally I reached the light and the cause of all the traffic problems was revealed.

An empty sugarcane truck and a car had gotten into an accident. No one was hurt and the drivers and occupants of both vehicles were standing off to the side as the PNP took pictures and noted the scene.

From the looks of it the truck got a little too close to the car and its wheel smashed the side mirror and took off the front bumper. Or maybe the car got a little close, sheared its bumper, and then the truck smashed the mirror. It's hard for me to tell and I didn't ask at the scene. Someone dun goofed that's for sure.

It's strange that an empty sugarcane truck was involved in this accident. I am always on edge waiting to see an accident with a full truck which has spilled all its overflowing contents onto some hapless driver crushing him in an instant. 

Maybe one day.

Broom-Broom Cars

Can you think of a better name for a car dealership than Broom-Broom Cars?

Everyone wants a car with a strong engine that roars out Broom-Broom! Would you buy a car from a dealer named Putt-Putt Cars or Clunk-Clunk Cars. I don't think so.

This onomatopoeia car dealership gives me a a few ideas for similarly named businesses like Chop-Chop Butcher Shop, Glug-Glug water refill station, and Chomp-Chomp Burger Joint.

What this sign really reminds me of more than anything else is Speed Buggy.

With his catchphrase, "Vroom-a-zoom-zoom!" I think Speed Buggy would approve of this dealership's name.