Bacolod City: Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II has highlighted the importance of adhering to road safety and traffic regulations following major vehicular accidents that resulted in fatalities and injuries, including incidents in Western Visayas during Holy Week. Mendoza stressed the need for change and the promotion of road safety to protect commuters during an interview on the sidelines of a Department of Transportation officials' visit.

According to Philippines News Agency, the LTO has taken action by suspending 671 drivers for various reasons and issuing 1,100 show-cause orders related to vehicle roadworthiness. Mendoza emphasized the agency's commitment to strict enforcement, noting that 574 of the suspended drivers were involved in road crashes that caused physical injuries or deaths, while 97 tested positive for drugs.

In Western Visayas, Regional Director Gaudioso Geduspan II reported efforts to revoke the driver's license of Jagpreet Singh, an Indian national involved in a fatal accident during a Good Friday procession in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City. Singh's vehicle collided with a tricycle and other vehicles, resulting in three deaths and 17 injuries. Additionally, show-cause orders were issued against a driver and a jeepney operator in Iloilo for violations during Holy Week.

Mendoza also announced the establishment of an LTO regional office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. The operation timeline will align with directives from the Department of Transportation, the parent agency. He mentioned plans to set up an office in Bacolod City to manage the high volume of transactions in the urban area.