Timely
PRESIDENT Marcos has banned government officials and personnel from using sirens, blinkers and other similar devices, drawing cheers and applause from the public.
President Marcos made the decision following the worsening of the traffic condition in heavily-populated Metropolitan Manila (MM) and surrounding areas.
Admittedly, traffic congestion is one of the major reasons why the cars of the rich, some politicians and other influential people are equipped with sirens and blinkers.
It will recalled that the late President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos issued a decree in 1973 regulating the use of sirens, bells, whistles, horns and other similar devices.
Under the decree, only the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are entiled to use vehicles with these gadgets.
In Administrative Order No. 18, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin noted the rampant use of sirens or “wang-wang” and blinkers.
He said the indiscriminate use of these devices has been causing traffic disruptions and and unsafe road and traffic environments.
Exempted from AO No. 18 are vehicles of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, fire trucks, hospital ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
The unauthorized and improper use of the said gadgets by government officials and employees shall be dealt with under relevant laws.
Without doubt, President Marcos is on the right track in stepping up the campaign against the unauthorized use of sirens, blinkers and other similar devices.
It’s certainly a timely move.
