Capitol’s Traffic Info Drive in Schools Launched in Minglanilla

The Cebu Provincial Government, through the Capitol’s traffic management, Provincial Information Office (PIO), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial School Board, launched the #SuLiD: Sugbo Likay Disgrasya campaign, with Lipata Elementary School in Minglanilla, Cebu as its pilot area.

#SuLiD is an information drive that aims to educate students with the basic traffic safety rules and regulations to help lessen road accidents.

The campaign kick-off was led by Vice Gov. Agnes A. Magpale; Provincial Board (PB) Members Raul Bacaltos, Yolanda Daan and Christopher Baricuatro; Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña and other town officials; as well as Lipata Elementary School officials and teachers headed by principal Tomas Diamante.

More than 500 elementary and senior high students from Minglanilla attended the launch.

Image source: http://www.cebu.gov.ph

Joy Tumulak, Capitol focal person for Traffic Management, explained the rationale and importance of the project to the students, saying that being informed on traffic rules is not just for drivers, but also for commuters and pedestrians to prevent accidents that is also one of the factors that add up to traffic congestion.

Tumulak said that the information drive is in line with the administration of Gov. Hilario P. Davide III and Vice Gov. Magpale’s initiatives to strengthen its efforts on decongesting traffic in Metro Cebu.

The traffic summit was launched in Minglanilla since it is one of the towns that have the busiest roads, plus some schools are located by the road.

After Lipata Elementary School, the information drive will move to other schools in the entire Province, giving priorities to towns/cities in Metro Cebu.

Image source: http://www.cebu.gov.ph

PB Member Christopher Baricuatro, who chairs the Committee on Education, stressed on the importance of inculcating road safety measures to individuals while they are still young.

Magpale, in her speech, reminded the youth to take to heart their learning in the campaign and to pass it on to others so they can also help spread awareness on road safety.

“Sigurohon ta nga luwas ug malikay sa disgrasya ang atong mga kabataan diha sa kadalanan,” said Magpale. “Kung ang kagamhanan, eskwelahan ug panimalay maghiusa ug magtambayayong sa pagdisiplina ug paggiya sa atong mga kabataan, bahin ning maong lagda,dako ang kahigayonan nga dili sila matumpawak diha sa kadalanan.”

Before giving his lecture on traffic signs, Rhee Telen, provincial local disaster risk reduction management officer 2, encouraged the students to join him in singing and dancing the #SuLiD jingle, which the participants heeded with enthusiasm.

Telen was also joined by other personnel from PDRRMO and PIO in dancing the jingle that features the different road signs.

The upbeat tune and easy-to-learn dance steps delighted the students, some of them even said that the jingle made the traffic sign and safety easier to understand.

Image source: http://www.cebu.gov.ph

Asked what she learned of the dance jingle, 11-year-old Zanea Shane Omandam said, “Nga dili magpataka og labang kay maligsan ka.”

Remjie Trocio and Adena Juezan, both 11, said the dance jingle made learning traffic signs and safety rules easier to remember.

Omandam even sang a line from the jingle, “Ayaw dayo’g larga kon dili pa siya mo-green.”

Teaching students about traffic safety aligns with education, and law and order, two of the Capitol’s Six-Key Development Agenda.

The other four key development agenda are health and social services; countryside development; environment protection, climate change and disaster risk management; and infrastructure development, tourism and investment promotion. (CEBU PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT)