Citom reports less violators of jaywalking in January

CEBU, Philippines - The City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) reported a decrease in the collection of fines from jaywalking violations in January compared to December last year.

Citom executive officer Rafael Yap said the anti-jaywalking team only apprehended 1,057 violators in January. The number is almost 50-percent lower compared to the 2,112 apprehensions in December last year.

Yap said a total of P53,750 was collected by the city government from the violators last month. The amount is relatively lower compared to the P105,600 in December.

The anti-jaywalking ordinance has a P50 fine for every violation. The ordinance also provides that those who cannot afford to pay shall render civic duties in lieu of the fine.

The Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance was enacted by the City Council several years ago to discourage pedestrians from crossing anywhere on the streets and while the green lights are on for the vehicles.

Pedestrians crossing anywhere on the street allegedly contributes to traffic problem in the city. This prompted Councilor Richard “Ritchie” Osmeña to propose an amendment to the existing ordinance seeking to increase the fine from P50 to P3,000.

The proposal was opposed by Yap and some of the members of the city council because most of the violators are from the province.

Yap argued that the students and those who are earning less could not afford it.

Councilor Edgardo Labella is also wary that the increase in fine might become a source of corruption for unscrupulous enforcers.

“Mahimo nga atong patas-an ang multa pero dili lang g’yud kaayo daku (we can raise the fine but not that much),” Labella said. — (FREEMAN)