DOTr wants LGUs to set their own speed limits

Training, guidelines, and equipment to be provided

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants local government units to set their own speed limits. This effort is in a bid to make the roads safer for motorists and pedestrians, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), represented by Usec. Mark Richmund de Leon, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), represented by Asec. Edgar Galvante, together with public interest law organization, ImagineLaw, has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2018-001, also known as “Guidelines and Standards for Classifications of Roads, Setting Speed Limits under Republic Act No. 4136 and Collection of Road Crash Data”, will be implemented nationwide.

Issued in collaboration between the DOTr, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), JMC No. 2018-001 helps set guidelines on implementing and setting speed limits to different LGUs. The joint memorandum will help LGUs determine, set, and implement speed limits on various roads in the area. It will also help train local enforcers and possibly supply them with the equipment needed to enforce the speed limit.

Asec. Galvante concluded the ceremonial signing with a pledge to make sure that all LGUs nationwide have the capacity to enforce speed limits, and ultimately, reduce significantly the number of fatal road crashes throughout the Philippines.

According to Sophia Monica San Luis, executive director of ImagineLaw, LGU training conducted with foreign specialists have already begun since last year in select provinces. Furthermore, some have already even enacted speed limits based on JMC 2018-001. However, she says that there are still over 1,000 LGUs left, and they hope to complete the training in all LGUs in the next 2-3 years.

For now, there was no timeline provided as to when speed limits on Philippine roads will be implemented by LGUs. In fact, we learned that the LGUs cannot be forced to implement speed limits in their respective area. Instead, it is up to the LGU officials whether or not to heed JMC No. 2018-001, and set proper speed limits for local roads.

Does your area have a speed limit yet?