• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Due to two separate fatal accidents that recently occurred along its national highway, the municipality of E. B. Magalona in Negros Occidental, is proposing the declaration of the town’s 12-kilometer stretch as a “Traffic Discipline Zone.”
Mayor Marvin Malacon said the declaration will allow the imposition of stricter traffic rules and added security measures along the town’s highway that extends from its boundary in Silay to its boundary in Victorias, to avoid further tragic road crashes there.
Malacon yesterday presented his proposed traffic plans during the EB Magalona 2nd Quarter Joint Peace and Order Council (POC) and Anti- Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Meeting.
“We just cannot afford another disaster in our highway. We must do something concrete so that no more life would be senselessly lost in these accidents,” the mayor stressed during the POC and ADAC meeting.
Malacon initially suggested that among the measures they plan to implement are the imposition of speed limits for motorists at all times, and to identify safer areas for U-Turn slots.
Another proposal is to set up barricades with 24/7 solar-powered blinkers approaching highway bends such as along the boulevard and along Barangay Alicante, as well as in school zone fronting the E. B. Magalona National High School (EBMNHS), to compel motorists to slow down.
During the meeting, the mayor tapped the expertise of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to suggest more measures to support this objective.
Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, for his part, requested these agencies to guide the Sangguniang Bayan in drafting an ordinance for this purpose.
On December 15 last year, Kevin Liscano, a Grade 10 student of EB Magalona National High School, was hit by a speeding hauler truck while crossing on a pedestrian lane in front of the school along the highway.
On May 13, Jimmy Abellar Sr., a 43-year-old father from Barangay Tanza died, while his son was injured, after their motorcycle was sandwiched by a trailer truck and a van that collided along the EB Magalona highway.*
