Owing to an increasing number of road accidents particularly along the national highway, the Ilocos Norte government has committed to installing more early warning and safety signage this year to caution motorists and be aware of accident-prone areas.

Marcell Tabije, local disaster risk reduction and management officer, confirmed this on Thursday, saying the road warning signs to be put up will include speed limit reminders, road light reflectors, caution markers about falling rocks, and slippery roads.

He added that a portion of the provincial government’s 5 percent local disaster risk reduction fund would be used for the project.

“The budget for this has already been approved in the 2022 budget and we hope to complete all the installations before the onset of the rainy season,” Tabije said.

The latest record from the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office showed more than a hundred road crash accidents in the province in 2021 involving minors, bikers, drunk motorists, and unlicensed drivers.

To curb the escalating number of road accidents in the province, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc called for the intensified implementation of traffic laws, particularly for motorcycle riders.

“Please be responsible and safe. Always remember to wear your helmet, have your documents in hand, and make sure that all of your motorcycle accessories are in check,” he said, citing the almost daily reports of vehicular accidents in the province. (PNA)