All 4-wheel vehicles must have EWDs by July

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will fully implement the law on the use of early warning devices (EWDs) beginning on the first week of July, following a memorandum from the agency’s central office.

Alberta Janine Lawas, chief of the LTO District Office in Bais City, Negros Oriental, disclosed Friday that prior to the full implementation of the law on EWDs, there will be massive information and dissemination campaign to allow motorists to acquire these accessories immediately before the law is enforced.

Assistant Sec. Virginia Torres of the LTO issued Memorandum VPT 2013-1762 dated May 20, 2013 on the revised rules on the installation of EWDs, as earlier stipulated in Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation Act of the Philippines.

Based on this law, Lawas warned that failure to equip a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a pair of EWDs will mean apprehension by LTO personnel and deputized agents, especially during roadside inspections.

Also, under the revised rules, LTO district offices will no longer allow renewal of registration or registration of new vehicles unless the owner can present a pair of EWDs, which must conform to agency standards and specifications otherwise the application for registration will be denied.

Lawas admitted that the penalty for failure to equip a vehicle with EWD may be minimal but then owners will be repeatedly apprehended for the same violation. 

The EWDs must be presented for inspection to be issued a sticker of LTO stickers with the vehicle’s plate number and date of inspection so that these could not be passed on from one user to another, she said.

The LTO-Bais District Office will intensify its information and education campaign on EWDS in the coming days before it begins implementing the law on EWD use by next month.  (FREEMAN)