Provision in traffic code under revision

CEBU, Philippines - The Committee on Laws recommended the approval of an amendment to the City Traffic Code requiring the putting up of early warning devices and appropriate safety nets pertaining to all works done on streets by any entity.

Councilor Raul Alcoseba of the City Council’s committee on traffic management proposed an ordinance seeking to amend Cebu City Ordinance 801 or the Traffic Code by inserting a provision requiring the use of early warning devices and other appropriate safety paraphernalia involving any work done on city streets.

This may be a construction, a digging or a drilling activity, or repair of vehicle done by both private and public entities.

The purpose of the proposed amendment of Alcoseba is to ensure safety not only of workers but also of road users, as well as to increase the penalties.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, head of the committee on laws, said that the proposed ordinance is “fully within the power of the august body to enact considering that the Local Government Code allows the formulation of measures to regulate use of streets, avenues, alleys, sidewalks, bridges, parks and other public places.”

Several accidents were observed to have occurred because of the lack of early warning devices.

However, Labella recommended that the proposed penalty of P3,500 be expressly stated that such imposition will not go beyond P5,000, the allowable fine amount imposed by a city ordinance.

“To comply with this limitation, it is suggested that the penalty clause of the proposed ordinance should expressly state that the amount of the fine that may be imposed as a penalty for the violation thereof is not less than P3,500 but not more than P5,000,” according to the committee report.

Subject to the modification of the penalty clause, the committee recommends the approval of the amendment.

It will then be calendared in the next session for third and final reading. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)