MMDA to discuss road safety with haulers, truckers after recent accidents

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will speak with haulers and truckers to remind them of road safety and curb road accidents following the recent vehicle mishaps in Quezon City and Parañaque City.

In Joseph Morong’s Sunday report on 24 Oras Weekend, Anthony Irinco’s family could not accept that he was killed in the vehicle crash in Quezon City last Thursday.

Inrinco was a motorcycle rider, a breadwinner, and has a younger brother.

“Apat na nga lang kami, ngayon tatlo na lang. Para sa akin, masakit pero wala ako magawa andyan na eh. Pero dapat managot ang dapat managot,” Anthony’s father, Antolin, said.

(We were already just four in the family; now we're down to three. It hurts, but it is out of my hands. However, someone must be held accountable.)

According to his brother, Anthony was able to call him after the incident, so they thought it was a minor accident.

However, when his brother went to the hospital, he spotted Anthony outside the emergency room.

“Nakita ko agad kuya ko, nasa labas lang ng emergency room (ER), wala ibang kasama dun. Walang tumitingin na nurse o doktor. Iba na itsura, kaya gulat na gulat ako kasi sa video call, maayos pa sya. Tapos nung paglapit namin tsaka lang nila pinasok sa ER nung nakita nila na may kamag-anak na,” said Angelo, Anthony’s brother.

(I immediately saw my brother outside the emergency room with no companion. No nurse or doctor was attending to him. We could not believe that he looked different because he looked fine when he video-called us. They only attended to him when we approached him, when they saw his relatives were present.)

Anthony was one of four people who were killed when driver Richard Mangupag lost control of his brakes, causing the truck to plow through other vehicles along the Katipunan-Aurora Flyover.

Thirty-five other individuals were injured, including an eight-month-old baby.

On Saturday, the Quezon City Traffic Enforcement Unit Sector 3 filed complaints against the driver before the prosecution.

These complaints are reckless imprudence resulting in multiple damages to properties, multiple physical injuries, and multiple homicide.

“Humihingi po ako ng dispensa sa mga nadisgrasya kasi hindi ko naman po kasalanan yung nangyaring ganun. Aksidente po. Kasi may kotse, pag preno ko, wala na. Wala nang preno,” Mangupag said.

(I’m asking for forgiveness to all those involved in the accident. It was not my fault; it was an accident. There was a car in front of me, but when I hit the brakes, it malfunctioned.)

Meanwhile, the owner of the truck failed to appear in the inquest proceedings.

“P_ng ina nila. Makipagtulungan sila kasi dami nilang sinirang buhay eh,” Angelo said.

(Curse them. They should coordinate with the authorities since they destroyed many lives.)

The Land Transportation Office also issued a show cause order against the owner and driver of the truck.

On Friday evening, a wing van plowed into other vehicles after it supposedly lost control of the brakes along Skyway At Grade in Parañaque City. One person was killed and five were injured.

According to MMDA’s data gathered by GMA Integrated News, more than 55,000 vehicular accidents occurred from January to September this year.

Of the total number, four were caused by malfunctioning brakes.

Due to the consecutive vehicular accidents, the MMDA will speak with haulers and truckers.

“Remind para yung members nila ay masabihan na imaintain yung kanilang mga sasakyan na nasa kondisyon at maging desiplinado yung mga driver sa kanilang pagmamaneho,” MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said.

(We will remind them so that their members will be advised to keep their trucks in good condition and discipline their drivers with road safety measures.)

The MMDA will also deploy enforcers to conduct surprise inspections among trucks to ensure road safety amid the Christmas rush. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News