Author: Jerome Marzan

The Provincial Government of La Union has stepped up its campaign against minors and unlicensed drivers in driving motor vehicles through the enactment of the ordinance No. 303-2021 entitled Penalizing any Person Allowing, Consenting, Inducing or Directing Minors and Unlicensed Drivers to Drive Motor Vehicles.

This was approved after a series of discussions by the members of the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan confirming that several vehicular accidents that occurred in the province involves minors and unlicensed drivers driving motor vehicles.

SP Member Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V and author of the ordinance, said that as per La Union Police records, numerous accidents in the province involve unlicensed drivers and minors who, in their tender years are at times careless, and are not supposed to be driving motor vehicles. He even pointed out that accidents were mostly caused by lack of proper knowledge on traffic rules and regulations.

The ordinance specifically states that it shall be unlawful for any person of legal age to allow, consent, induce, or direct any minor to drive any motor vehicle for any purpose. It shall likewise prohibit any owner/person to allow, consent, induce, or direct, any person who is not a possessor of a driver’s license duly issued, to drive a motor vehicle.

Any person found guilty thereof shall be penalized of imprisonment of not less than five months but not more than one year or a fine of Php 5,000.00 or both at the discretion of the court. Should an accident happen as a result thereof, the person found guilty shall be imposed the penalty of an imprisonment of one year or a fine of Php 5,000.00 or both at the discretion of the court, without prejudice to criminal, civil and administrative case.

Minor offenders will be subjected to mandatory guidance counseling with the Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer or any of his/her designated personnel in the presence of either or both parents/guardians of the minor.

“The monitoring and implementation will be done by Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of the component Local Government Units (LGUs) of La Union, through their respective Punong Barangays, Barangay Tanods, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) and/or local personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure compliance of the provisions of this ordinance,” Ortega added.

Classified under Priority Group A1.7 or closed setting, the La Union Provincial Jail (LUPJ) gives priority to the need for mass testing to ensure safety of all staff and Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) against CoViD-19. Thus, conducted an on-site RT-PCR Test for all PDL and personnel of the LUPJ on June 16, 2021.

The testing was conducted in coordination with the Provincial Health Office and Home of Hope Isolation Facility in Brgy. Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union.

The swabbing team, headed by Medical Technologist II Ms. Jonalyn V. Fernandez reminded all who took part in the activity of the importance of minimum health protocols as well as strict compliance to the prescribed isolation period.

Results showed that there were two individuals who tested positive out of 80 PDL and 7 LUPJ personnel. As of June 28, 2021, one of the two individuals who tested positive has already yielded a negative result while the other is recovering at the Isolation Center.

As the Regional Peace and Order Council Chairperson, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III emphasized the need to align all government initiatives and interventions in preserving peace and order during the Joint Meeting of the Regional of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Regional Development Council and RPOC on June 16, 2021 held at the Agora, Thunderbird Resorts, City of San Fernando, La Union and virtually.
“We shall witness the presentations of our cluster accomplishments and our action plans. From here, we will know should there be need to recalibrate our course of action to cope with the latest developments of the new normal. I firmly believe that through our cohesive action in addressing the communist insurgency in the country, peace and order can be achieved in our community,” said Gov. Pacoy.
Also present in the meeting was National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. presided the meeting and he highlighted that there is a need to remain vigilant despite the dismantling of the only guerilla front in the region.
Also discussed in the meeting were the National and Regional Situation Update; Presentation of Cluster Accomplishments for the First Semester and Catch Up Plans; and updates on Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vaccination Program; among others.

Governor Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” Ortega III lauded the Duterte Administration’s commitment in sustaining peace, order, and development in the regions. He believes that one of the greatest legacies of this administration is the establishment of local councils Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC). This project paved way for harmonized agency interventions in response to the insurgency problem.
Gov Pacoy expressed his support to this initiative during the conduct of “Kasama sa Pamana: Regional Pre-SONA Series” yesterday, June 15, 2021 in the City of San Fernando, La Union.
This is the seventh leg of the series of regional dialogues as part of the 6th State-of-the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte being conducted by Office of the Cabinet Secretariat (OCS) and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr, and PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III presented during the forum the numerous accomplishments of the Duterte Administration in various sectors paving progress in Region 1. A comprehensive report on programs to combat the CoViD-19 pandemic and the roll-out of CoViD-19 Vaccination across the Ilocos Region was also provided by officials of the Department of Health.
Meanwhile, during the Media Briefing, Gov Pacoy highlighted the the Provincial Government of La Union’s initiatives in intensifying health provider network in delivering medical services to the constituents most especially in this time of crisis.
The pre-SONA forum was attended by key officials from the national government agencies (NGAs), local chief executives and punong barangays, non-government organizations (NGOs), academe, media, and the business sector.