The city government of Cadiz in Negros Occidental held a road safety training for its 180 government-employed drivers May 20 at Balay Cadiznon, spearheaded by the city’s General Services Office (GSO) in coordination with the Land Transportation Office.
The training was aimed at apprising the city’s government drivers of their responsibilities, and the importance of discipline and accountability in transporting employees, responding to field operations, delivering services, and carrying out the work that keeps the city running.
The training also underscored the importance of proper vehicle management, accountability, and safety practices among personnel entrusted with government vehicles, as the local government stressed that public trust is carried not only inside offices, but also on the road.
At the training, Cadiz Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante Jr. reminded all city-paid drivers not to be “haras-haras (reckless)” on the road as they are always carrying lives.
“Practice patience, avoid reckless behavior, give way when necessary, and always apply defensive driving principles to help protect lives and prevent accidents,” Escalante told the drivers.
Throughout the training, driver-participants were also apprised about Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Enacted 62 years ago, the Code serves as fundamental guide that governs land transportation, vehicle registration, driver licensing, and traffic rules throughout the Philippines.
The whole day training also discussed RA 10913, or the “Anti-Distracted Driving Act”, the city said in a press release, adding that this particular law prohibits motorists across the country from using mobile phones, among other electronic gadgets, while driving.
Escalante said the training is relevant amid the rising number of vehicular accidents in the province and the Negros Island Region (NIR).
Data culled from the Department of Health show that, from December 2025 to January 2026, there were 261 road crash cases logged in Negros Occidental, and 558 road mishaps in the entire NIR.
With this number of road accidents in the region, Escalante said: “It is better to re-orient and retool our drivers of the basic guidelines/reminders about responsible driving, making them as the real agents of road safety and discipline.” ||
