CITOM seeks brgys’ help

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management has asked 80 barangays to assist them in the collection of traffic fines and penalties and in exchange will be given a 20 percent share from the total collected amount.

In a resolution, the CITOM board agreed to request “all the barangays to assist CITOM in the collection of traffic fines and penalties and a 20-percent of the collected amount will be given back to the barangay as commission.”

Former CITOM executive director and now Cebu Bus Rapid Transit czar lawyer Rafael Yap admitted that they failed to “religiously collect” the traffic fines due to lack of personnel.

Considering the insufficiency of traffic enforcers, CITOM is seeking assistance from the barangays by training and utilizing deputized barangay officials and tanods to help address traffic problems within their respective areas of responsibility.

He said there were suggestions to outsource the collection to private entities but there are laws that prohibit the move as it is the primary duty of the City Treasurer’s Office.

However, the barangays can collect under the direct supervision of the city treasurer.

Councilor Philip Zafra, ABC president, has lobbied the measure granting a certain percentage of CITOM’s collected revenues to the barangays for the council’s approval.

He said the commission will be used by barangays for necessary and vital expenses in the dispensation of the task.

He said further that the barangays serve as the primary implementing unit of government policies and programs, thereby revenue sharing is “valid and proper.”

“Traffic fines serve as deterrent or preventive mechanism against traffic violator. In order to serve its purpose, the same should be efficiently and consistency collected from traffic violators with the assistance of barangays,” he said.

Councilor Sisinio Andales’ committee on law, which reviewed the proposal, said it is a “noble” act but it should be enacted through an ordinance and not just by a mere resolution.

“The committee interposes no objection, but on the second resol-ving clause (20 percent commission), we suggest that an appropriate ordinance on the matter should be enacted considering that the same is for the proper conduct of the affairs of this city government,” part of the report read.

The committee referred the matter on the revenue share to the treasurer’s office for perusal.

Section 16 of the Local Go-vernment Code states, “every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance.”  (FREEMAN)