The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Region III recently organized the ‘Bayaning Tsuper’ project with the city government of Pampanga to improve the public’s perception of transport officials.
On Thursday, uniformed officers distributed 300 bags of relief goods to tricycle and jeepney operators in Barangay San Nicolas in San Fernando, Pampanga. Led by LTO Region III regional director Eduardo De Guzman and assistant regional director Daniel Martinez, the initiative is part of the agency’s road safety advocacy.
De Guzman explained: “Itong mga activities na ito—para ito sa mga bayaning tsuper kasi, kailangan din natin silang bigyan ng pansin, kailangan nating pataasin ang kanilang morale. Ito kasing propesyon na ito, akala nila ang propesyon na ito ay ordinary lang. Pero, maraming buhay ang dala nito, while operating their motor vehicles.”
Aside from providing food assistance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the LTO also checked for driver and vehicle requirements and reminded the operators to follow the health and safety protocols.
Last December, the LTO and Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group also surprised several motorcycle riders at Red Cliff along the Transcentral Highway in Cebu with early Christmas treats.
“Maiba man lang yung imahe ng LTO—yung pagtingin ng mga drayber sa mga law enforcers sa LTO particularly, kasi po pag nakita nila ang ating mga kawani sa daan, eventually they are distracted, which is wrong,” De Guzman added.