Responding to President Benigno S. Aquino III’s inaugural address pledge of “No more wang-wang,” the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) offered to report to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) the license plate numbers, make, and model of motor vehicles equipped with but not authorized to have sirens, bells and whistles.

AAP president Augusto C. Lagman hailed the newly installed President’s promise to do away with the sirens, dome lights, blinkers and other gadgets, commonly called ‘wang wang’ that some motorists use to bully their way through traffic.

He encouraged AAP members, the general motoring public and commuters to note down the license plate numbers and other identifying details of unauthorized ‘wang wang’ users and inform AAP by calling 414-2288 or 0917-504-2288.

AAP, in turn, will report this to the LTO and Highway Patrol Group.

AAP Vice President Johnny Angeles, who chairs the Road Safety Committee, said that the rampant unauthorized use of ‘wang wang’ impedes traffic flow and endangers road users by creating confusion and chaos on the road. As the national auto club, AAP represents and protects the interests of motorists, particularly as regards road safety.

Presidential Decree No. 96 issued in 1973 declares as unlawful ‘the use or attachment of sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and other signaling or flashing devices on motor vehicles’ that impede and confuse traffic. These devices will be immediately confiscated from those violating PD 96.

Exempted from PD 96 are motor vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, LTO, police departments, fire departments and hospital ambulances.

To add more teeth to the much popular pronouncement of President Aquino on the use of “wang-wang” or sirens, Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri issued on Tuesday a directive barring private vehicles from using their sirens warning that the city government will go after the violators.

Only ambulances, fire trucks, police mobile cars and vehicles of immediate public service would be given leeway in using the sirens on the road but only if they are responding to official call of duty..

Echiverri said that he has tasked members of the Reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management (RDPSTM) to apprehend private vehicles found to be utilizing the illegal sirens and then confiscate the wang-wangs.

The city mayor also directed all City Hall employees to dismantle the sirens from their respective cars if they are currently using one.

He said that following the orders of the President is great way of showing support to the administration’s ideals, even if it is only a simple act like refraining from siren use.

This developed as Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. has urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to put together an extensive closed-circuit TV (CCTV) surveillance system in major thoroughfares and key public places.

“Coverage of existing public surveillance cameras is extremely limited. We should have at least one observation camera for every 1,000 persons,” Barzaga said.

He explained that the video cameras would compensate for the lack of police officers, whose officer-population ratio stands at 1:700, a far cry from the ideal 1:500 ratio.

“President Aquino's decision to take charge of the DILG is a blessing. He will directly oversee not just the strengthening of local governments, but also the promotion of peace and order as well as public safety,” Barzaga said.

He added: “The President enjoys tremendous public support. Cable TV as well as high-speed wireless Internet service providers will surely help spread the use of surveillance cameras, once Malacañang or the DILG invites them to do so.”