Tom okays amendments to measure on 'dispatchers'

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has finally approved the amendments to City Ordinance 1219 imposing higher fines of up to P5,000 on car watchers and on persons who dispatch passengers.

Councilor Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba, chairman of the City Council committee on traffic management, is confident the amendments to the ordinance would discourage dispatchers and "watch-your-car" boys from continuing with the practice.

Traffic officials expect violators to spend time in jail this time because of the stiffer fines.

Dionesio Cataraja, who drives a Labangon-bound passenger jeepney, hopes that traffic enforcers would implement without delay the amended ordinance.

" Kaming mga drayber malipay g'yod kon mangawala na kining mga dispatchers kay daku kaayo ang among mahatag nila sa tibuok adlaw, " said Cataraja, who had to cough up P5 every time he stopped in an area where dispatchers operated.

He said fellow drivers who refused to give to dispatchers more often ended up with flat tires.

"Suyakan man sa mga dispatchers ang ligid sa ilang sakyanan," Cataraja said.

Now that the mayor already has signed the amended ordinance, the City Council will publish it in a local newspaper and after 15 days from its publication, it would be implemented.

"Dispatching" is defined as an act of procuring, soliciting, or escorting passengers or would-be passengers to any passenger vehicle whether such act is done under direction of the driver or operator and done with or without collecting or demanding fees.

Acting city police director Patrocinio Comendador said he would task the traffic police personnel to intensify the campaign against dispatchers and "watch-your-car" boys by giving them a quota of violators to be apprehended every week.

When City Ordinance 1219 - an ordinance declaring unlawful the acts of dispatching public utility vehicles and watch your car - was enacted in 1986, the campaign against dispatchers and "watch-your-car" boys was ineffective because those who were apprehended could easily pay the fines. - Rene U. Borromeo