Mayor Hector Villanueva of Bais City , Negros Oriental, has assured the new chief of the Land Transportation Office of the Bais District Office of his support.

Janine Lawas, who officially took over from Roland Ramos on Oct. 2, paid a courtesy call on the mayor Wednesday to discuss ways of cooperation with the local government.

Villanueva stressed that his administration has been very supportive of other national agencies that have offices in his city.

He highlighted the need for coordination between local government units and national government agencies to accomplish their missions in public service and challenged Lawas to surpass the performance of her predecessor. He also emphasized the enforcement of the Clean Air Act, including regulations on use of mufflers and strict implementation of the smoke emission test.

Villanueva said many motorcycles without mufflers are running around Bais and the noise they make is irritating to residents, especially at night time.

Lawas, meanwhile, told the mayor that one of the immediate problems of her offices is lack of manpower to enforce traffic laws and rules.

She said majority of her staff are women, and only one employee is assigned at the traffic adjudication service.

While they are all deputized to enforce traffic laws and make arrests, she and her staff are overburdened with office functions and paperwork, Lawas added.

The LTO-Bais covers Canlaon City in the northernmost part of the province down to Bais, and the hinterland towns of Mabinay and Pamplona .

Lawas also admitted limitations in conducting routine checkpoints and enforcement of traffic laws, after the deputation of personnel of the Philippine National Police was recalled by the LTO central office.*JFP

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