A total of 135 participants from various law enforcement units in Negros Oriental completed a one-day deputation seminar Thursday conducted by the Land Transportation Office Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas.
The seminar, held at the Negros Oriental Convention Center in Dumaguete City, is the first and could be the only one for this year to deputize traffic law enforcers to assist the LTO in its mandate in enforcing traffic laws, rules and regulations.
Ronald Lim of the LTO Regional Operations Division in Region 7 was the guest lecturer in the seminar attended by the chiefs of the LTO District Offices of Bais City and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, and participated in by representatives from the Philippine National Police, the Provincial Public Safety Company, the Traffic Management Offices of Dumaguete City and Bais City and the Highway Patrol Group.
Discussed were the salient points of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, as well as specific concerns and issues in the enforcement of traffic laws, arrests, issuance of Temporary Operators Permit, violations and franchises, among others.
The seminar was a refresher for previously- deputized LTO agents and a new one for those who are applying for deputation for the first time.
Only LTO deputized agents can apprehend traffic violators and issue TOPs while TMOs and local traffic enforcers can also do the same provided that they issue citation tickets and the penalties are not higher than that of the LTO, as based on local ordinances, said Alberta Janine Lawas, chief of the LTO-Bais District Office.
The participants will be evaluated after the seminar and within a week or two the deputation orders will be issued by the LTO.
However, it was made clear in the seminar on Thursday that not all participants could be deputized if they fail to meet the standards set by the LTO. (PNA/JFP)
