Dizon warns erring motorists: Driver's license not a right

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Now back at the helm of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday warned motorists against violating traffic rules, stressing that a driver's license is a privilege, not a right.

Dizon returned as DOTr chief this week after switching posts with Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, who now heads the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Sinimulan na namin ni Sec. Banoy 'yan saka si Asec. [Markus] Lacanilao. Talagang istrikto siya diyan na kailangan talaga, kapag ang lisensya, pribilehiyo 'yan, hindi 'yan karapatan. Ibig sabihin, kung pribilehiyo 'yan, kailangan sumunod ka sa alituntunin ng tamang pagmamaneho. 'Pag ikaw ay lumabag, pasensiya na. Tatanggalin namin 'yung pribilehiyo mong 'yan,” Dizon said in an interview on Balitanghali.

(We started this with Secretary Banoy and Assistant Secretary Lacanilao, who is very strict about enforcing the rule that a driver's license is a privilege, not a right. This means motorists must follow proper driving rules. If you violate them, we're sorry, but we will take away that privilege.)

Dizon said the government should prioritize not only motorists but also commuters and pedestrians who struggle with their daily journeys to school and work.

“Ang kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo natin, kailangan commuter at mga pedestrians at ang mga kababayan nating araw-araw nahihirapan sa pagpasok sa eskwela, pagpasok sa trabaho, sila naman ang gawing prayoridad,” Dizon said.

(The President's directive is to prioritize commuters, pedestrians, and our fellow Filipinos who struggle every day to get to school and work.)

Asked about fixers at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Dizon said Lacanilao had also begun implementing reforms to address the problem.

“'Di ba dapat modern na tayo? Dapat hindi na pumipila ng mahaba, hindi na nahihirapan, hindi kailangan magbayad ng extra para mapabilis ang papeles sa pagkuha ng lisensya, pag-register ng sasakyan ngayong panahon na ito, pero nangyayari pa rin,” Dizon said.

(Shouldn't we be modern by now? People should no longer have to wait in long lines or go through difficulties, and they should not have to pay extra to expedite their driver's license applications or vehicle registrations. Yet these practices still persist.) — Jean Mangaluz/VBL, GMA News