Legislators in N. Cotabato town pass speed limit ordinance

KIDAPAWAN CITY -Legislators in nearby Makilala town have laid down an ordinance regulating the speed limit of motor vehicles along its national highway. Makilala vice-mayor Ricky Cua, presiding officer of theSangguniang Bayan, said the increase in the number of road accidents that happened from January to August this year has prodded them to pass Ordinance Number 294-2015. They cited, in particular, an incident which involved the granddaughter of a former town councilor who died after she was hit by a speeding van. On Monday, another 12-year old girl, a Grade Six pupil from a public school in Makilala town, died after she figured in a vehicular accident. Based on the ordinance, the speed limit of all motor vehicles that would enter the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality of Makilala would be 60 kilometers per hour in Poblacion areas, 40 kilometers per hour and in all school zones, 20 kilometers per hour. Records from the Traffic Division of the Makilala PNP showed that in 2015, some 100 road accidents transpired along the Makilala highway from January until August this year – an increase of at least 40 percent from 2014. Of the victims, seven of them died, reports added. Cua said the ordinance might be implemented before the year ends. They, however, need additional funds to enforce such law.The Makilala LGU needs to purchase speed guns and hire additional traffic enforcers to ensure strict implementation of the ordinance. In Kidapawan City, speed limits would also be regulated, according to City councilor Jiv-Jiv Bombeo, chair of the Committee on Transportation of the Sangguniang Panglungsod. Bombeo said they are now studying the amendments to the ordinance passed in 1996 that sets limit of speed of all motor vehicles plying the national highway in Kidapawan City. The 1996 ordinance states that the speed limit is only 15 to 20 kilometers per hour.But Bombeo intends to increase the limit to 40-60 kilometers per hour and increase the penalties.