COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEMS AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Violations in traffic laws are very common in highly populated areas such as the

City of Santiago in the Province of Isabela. The conditions are made worse because of the

continued congestion of traffic to the very crowded city. The accidents associated with

these violations cause a huge loss to life and property. Despite a lot of road accidents

happening every year it has not reduced the violations in traffic laws. A lot of people

disobey the rules every day sometimes willingly and sometimes because they are forced

to do so because of others. Major traffic laws such as wearing helmets in case of

motorcycles, putting on a seat belt for cards, driving on the correct side of the road

including overtaking from the correct direction, over speeding in certain restricted areas,

not obeying traffic signals, counter flowing in one way streets and others. It is mainly

because of these violations that major accidents occur. It should be recognized that the

highway is a social situation, in which people are interacting, however drivers are

unknown to teach other and in most of the cases the interaction between them are very

brief and non-recurring. The main objective of these laws is to minimize the confusion

and conflict between the vehicles and the people driving them. If these traffic rules and

violations are then followed it will automatically result a lesser road accidents thus would

prevent loss of life and property on the motorists of Santiago City.

Driving safety has become a priority issue in developing countries in view of

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increasing motorization levels.

It is in this light that this study titled “Effect of Road Clearing Operation via

Executive Order of PRRD and Road Widening Program of the DPWH has on the traffic

situation as perceived by Department of Public Order and Safety enforcers of Santiago

City” came into light, this study would want to assess the current traffic situation in the

city of Santiago as seen by officers of Department of Public Order and Safety of Santiago

City.

Background of the Study

The continuous growth of the City of Santiago especially in the number of

vehicles plying the roads of the city has resulted to very heavy traffic volume. Opening of

malls also resulted to increase vehicular traffic within the area and may have resulted to

more traffic problems within the city.

Although the visibility of DPOS Operatives within the city limit is always there,

motorists violating traffic rules and regulations have not been reduced. It is the objective

of this study to determine if the current road clearing and road widening implemented by

the Local Government Unit of Santiago thru the cooperation of the Department of Public

and Safety, Traffic Group of the SCPO and local office of DPWH has a major impact on

the current traffic situation of the City of Santiago.

Conceptual Framework
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This study’s primary goal is to assess the effect of road clearing operation and

road widening on the current traffic situation of the city of Santiago.

The study uses the input, process, output scheme. The input load consists of the

profile of the DPOS Operatives and their perception on the effects of road clearing

operation and road widening program on the traffic situation of Santiago City. The

process load consists of the assessment of the respondents on the effects on the traffic

situation in relation to the programs implemented. The output load consists of the

possible solutions to the traffic problems currently being experienced in Santiago City.
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INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1. Profile of
respondents in
terms of:
1.1. Age
1.2. Gender
1.3. Civil
Status
1.4. Length
of Service as
DPOS Officer
2. Perception of
respondents in Determination of Reduction of
the effects of the effect on the Traffic problems
road widening traffic situation within the City of
and road in relation to Santiago
clearing programs being
operation implemented thru
relative to: Survey
2.1. Traffic Questionnaire
Situation
and unstructured
2.2. Traffic
Violation interview
2.3. Parking
Situation
3. Measures that
can be
undertaken to
reduce traffic
problems in
Santiago City

FEEDBACK
Figure 1. Paradigm of the Study
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Statement of the Problem

This study titled “Effect of Road Clearing Operation via Executive Order of

PRRD and Road Widening Program of the DPWH has on the traffic situation as

perceived by Department of Public Order and Safety enforcers of Santiago City” aims to

determine the effect of the road clearing operations and road widening programs in the

traffic situation within the city of Santiago as seen by Department of Public Order and

Safety Santiago City operatives.

Specifically it sought to answer to the following questions:

1. What are the profile of respondents with regards to their:

a. Age

b. Gender

c. Civil Status

d. Length of Service as DPOS Officer

2. What is the perception of the respondents on the effects of road widening program

and road clearing operations in relation to:

a. Traffic Situation

b. Traffic Violation

c. Parking Situation

3. What are the measures to be undertaken in order to traffic problems within the

city of Santiago?
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Scope and delimitation

The study focused mainly on the current traffic situation in relation to the places

where road clearing operation and the road widening programs are under way within the

City of Santiago as perceived by DPOS Operatives of Santiago City.

It is limited on what the respondents have seen on their years of experience as

field officers of DPOS Santiago City.

Significance of the Study

This study mainly focuses on determining and laying down in a factual manner

the effects on the traffic situation of Santiago City the currently ongoing road widening

program and road clearing operations spearheaded by the local government unit.

Students. This study will give the Student a better understanding on how to

understand and follow the different traffic rules and regulations being implemented

within the roads of the City of Santiago

Local Government Unit. This will help them better understand what must be

implemented in traffic engineering to be able to lessen the traffic problem in the city, and

also to better implement traffic enforcement to the motorists of Santiago City for them to

be disciplined motorists.
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For future researchers. Who need to find good research materials as a basis for

their own studies because this study would be a good reference material in their future

researches about the subject discussed in this study.

Definition of terms

To better understand the studies some terminologies are defined. Here are the

following:

Assessment. An evaluation or a judgment about something based on the understanding

of the situation (Encarta, 2010)

Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) – local government unit concerned in

the traffic and safety of motorists within the City of Santiago.

Occurrence – the fact of something existing or being found in a place or under a

particular set of conditions. (Webster’s Dictionary, 2011)

Perceive – interpret or look on (someone or something) in a particular way; regard as

(Webster’s Dictionary, 2011)

Profile – a representation of something in an outline. Concise biographical sketch.

Traffic Accident – one of the leading cause of death, commonly occurring between two

or more vehicles on the road

Traffic rules and regulations. Are the laws which govern traffic and regulate vehicles

(Webster's Dictionary, 2011)

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Traffic Signs – a sign conveying information, an instruction or a warning to drivers.

(Webster’s Dictionary, 2011)

Violation – the action of violating someone or something. (Webster’s Dictionary, 2011)