City collects less traffic fines in February

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Transportation Office has collected less revenues for the month of February.

Sofia Bacolod, the head of the Traffic Violation’s Bureau, said they collected less by P668,360 compared to its collection in the previous month.

City Hall public information officer Carlo Dugaduga said the CCTO’s collections last month was only P4,753,727. It has collected P5,422,087 in January.

He explained the CCTO collected less last month because most of the drivers already followed the traffic rules to avoid being apprehended by the traffic enforcers.

“Among the items noted were collection has decrease in administrative fines for smoke belching, clamping fees, impounding fees and shares from towing fees,” Dugaduga said.

But some observers said the traffic enforcers’ collections went down because they are lax in their duties the reason why they apprehended less number of erring drivers.

Meanwhile, The FREEMAN learned that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has collected more than 100 more in January compared to its collection in the same period last year.

LTO-7 director Raul Aguilos revealed his office collected P1,082,950 in January this year compared to only P617,810 in the same month last year.

Aguilos also proudly announced that the LTO’s collection for February had gone up to P2,248,420 compared to only P1,187,555 in the same month in 2010.

The LTO records show that from 5,280 erring drivers apprehended by its organic personnel and deputized agents in February 2010, the figure went up to 6,989 last month.

Aside from the fines being paid by the apprehended drivers, the LTO also gets revenue from payments of vehicles’ registrations and drivers’ licenses.   (FREEMAN NEWS)