Deployment of civilian traffic enforcers opposed

Public utility drivers in Cebu City strongly oppose the deployment of civilian traffic enforcers who are allowed to strictly enforce the provisions of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code against the apprehended erring drivers and the proposal to give the apprehending officer a 10 percent share of the collected compromise fees from the violators.

“Kaming mga passenger jeepney drivers mosupak g’yod nga aprobahan kining paghimo’g kausaban sa ordinansa. Mentras buhi pa ko, mobarug g’yod ko sa katungod sa mga sama nako nga public utility driver,” said transport leader and mayoralty aspirant Rodolfo “Rudy” Laconza.

Laconza, who spoke before the Cebu City Council when the issue was presented to a public hearing last Wednesday, said that the proposed amendment to the existing City Ordinance 1647 would “pin down” the public utility drivers once it is approved.

He said the drivers of the public utility vehicles could not afford to pay the excessive fines as provided for under the new rates of fines that were promulgated by the Land Transportation Office. “Karon kon madakpan ang usa ka PUJ driver nga makalapas sa No Stopping ang multa P1,200 ug modoble kini kon madakpan na usab sa laing higayon.”

At present, only those traffic enforcers of the City Traffic Operations Management that are deputized by the LTO are authorized to implement the provisions of Republic Act 4136, while others can only implement the city traffic ordinance that prompted Councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem to suggest for some amendment to the ordinance.

Jakosalem, a member of the CITOM Board being the chairman of the City Council’s committee on transportation, proposed to amend the existing ordinance to allow the traffic personnel to enforce the provisions of the city’s traffic ordinance and other related ordinances, rules and regulations, including all national laws applicable to street traffic.

He also moved that the traffic enforcers will be empowered to remove and tow any vehicles caught illegally-parked or stalled in the street obstructing the flow of traffic and the subject vehicles will be released only upon payment of applicable fees and charges or upon authority of proper officers of CITOM or the city mayor.

Under the proposed amendment, the CITOM itself is entitled to a 20 percent share of every collected compromise fees arising from the penalties of the violations.

The 20 percent share for CITOM will be placed in a trust fund that will be used to promote effective maintenance and operations of the office and for traffic safety and improvement projects.

But the concerned apprehending traffic enforcer is also entitled to a separate 10 percent share of the collected compromise fees and it will be paid to them in bimonthly basis.

“Kanindot ana uy, maninguha na g’yod mi og panakop aron madisiplina ang mga drayber ug makakwarta usab,” a traffic enforcer assigned at D. Jakosalem Street said.

Laconza said the PUV drivers committed traffic violations because of unclear traffic signs while some drivers admitted that they are forced to disobey the traffic signs because they want to get more passengers. (FREEMAN NEWS)