BAYANING Tsuper (BTS) party-list first and second nominees, lawyers Aminola "Alex" Abaton, and Patrick Joseph Vera Cruz were both in Cagayan de Oro Wednesday aiming for a seat in the House of Representatives to address road safety issues across the country.

“It is now high time that perennial problems in the country like road crash accidents are addressed,” said Abaton.

Abaton, who is a native of Marawi City said the party-list, which advocates road safety governance and education in the country, will represent the transportation sector workers in Congress.

“We lack a concrete policy at that,” said Abaton adding that Bayaning Tsuper, if given a chance to represent this kind of advocacy in congress will benefit Filipino drivers.

BTS was first organized by the members of advocates on road safety in June 2019, according to Abaton.

With transport group in the city, Abaton, the former regional director of Land Transportation Office (LTO) Western Mindanao described the issue of road crash incidents as a pandemic.

“We advocates the institutionalization of road safety governance, education, inclusivity and stakeholders' welfare,” said Abaton.

Meanwhile, Vera Cruz, who is from Pagadian City here in Mindanao, said that over 12,000 individuals were killed in road crash incidents in 2019.

“Its an average of 32 to 34 fatalities per day,” said Vera Cruz during a press conference at Luxe Hotel.

“We also want to pass the inclusion of road safety education in the curriculum of the Department of Education,” said Vera Cruz.

Vera Cruz said the BTS was earlier in Cebu as they met members of Regional Federation of Person with Disabilities (PWDs) to formalize the process of the commissioned service vehicle.

He even clarified that the driver’s education requirement for those applying for license renewal would not entail additional expense to Filipinos, but a profit, to be a responsible driver.

Earlier, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the DOTR and the LTO to scrap the driver’s education requirement for those applying for license renewal.

“Comprehensive Driver Efucation (CDE) is necessary and has legal basis,” said Vera Cruz.

He said that the LTO is invoking Republic Act No. 10930.

“There is provision in the law states that a certification for a CDE is required for renewing a driver’s license,” maintained Vera Cruz.

An investigation should be done by the Congress if this could be source of red tape and corruption, he said.

Vera Cruz urged the House to look into the CDE requirement.

He said the LTO properly explained the basis for its impositions and to prove that the correct legal processes were complied with. (Ben Balce)