MANILA – The Philippine government has initiated steps to implement mandatory speed limiters in public utility vehicles (PUVs), a move aimed at enhancing road safety nationwide.

According to Philippines News Agency, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, announced that efforts to draft guidelines for the enforcement of Republic Act 10916, also known as the Road Speed Limiter Act, are underway. The act, which was supposed to be fully implemented in 2016 after it lapsed into law, has seen delays in its execution. "The full implementation of this law is long overdue. We have to do something now for the interest and protection of all road users," Mendoza stated.

The drafting process began with a meeting on Wednesday involving officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the LTO. Mendoza emphasized the urgency of the guidelines' development, aiming for the swift installation of speed limiters in PUVs. "We will continue holding a series of meetings in order to come up with the guideline, with the intention of installing the required speed limiters in the soonest possible time," he added.

The initiative also included dialogues with UV Express and bus operators to discuss the mandatory implementation of the speed limiters, which are devices designed to electronically control the maximum speed of a vehicle to enhance safety without affecting other vehicle components.

The law’s enactment was primarily driven by the government's intent to reduce road accidents through regulatory measures, targeting a critical reduction in over-speeding incidents among public transport vehicles.