Labella to Ceres: One more accident and you’re out

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella did not mince his words in warning Ceres Liner following the spate of road accidents involving the company’s buses.

“We gave a stern warning that if there will be more accidents, we will invoke the authority of the local government. We cannot allow them anymore to enter the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Cebu in case there will be accidents that will happen again,” he said in yesterday’s press conference at City Hall.

The mayor cited Section 16 (General Welfare) of the Local Government Code, which states that “every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied there from, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare.”

Among the functions that local governments are required to ensure and support in their respective territorial jurisdictions under the said provision is to “promote health and safety.”

The mayor said the city can exercise the necessary incidental and appropriate powers in order to promote and protect the lives of the citizens.

It can be recalled that the Ceres buses figured in successive road accidents in Cebu City last month. One, for instance, collided with an ambulance, which left several people injured, in Barangay Carreta.

Ceres bus units are operated by Vallacar Transport Inc., the country's largest bus transport company based in Bacolod City.

Labella has given Ceres one chance to address its mistakes, while setting several conditions.

“Hopefully, Ceres won’t figure in another accident,” he said.

Ceres assured Labella to observe all safety protocols set, including the speed limit.

Labella said Ceres drivers were reportedly not aware of the speed limits for national highways/roads.

Labella earlier issued Executive Order No. 67, setting the speed restrictions of vehicles in the city.

Vehicles passing major thoroughfares in Cebu City should not go beyond 40 kilometers per hour (kph), and 20 kph when making their way along residential areas.

Also, Labella said Ceres buses are no longer allowed to pass through roads not specified in the approved routes.

“Ceres buses are barred from plying small roads not included in the approved route. The company gave us the commitment,” he said.

The buses are also prohibited to park on the roadsides, especially in Barangay Bulacao. The parked buses there are reportedly causing bottlenecks.

Instead, the company is directed to use its depot in Barangay Kinasang-an.

“They have to follow that and use their Kinasang-an depot to avoid bottlenecks in the Bulacao area,” said Labella.

If Ceres fails to fulfill its commitments, Labella said, there are other buses that are on standby.

In a separate development, the city government is currently evaluating the road worthiness of traditional jeepneys to address the lack of transportation in the city due to restrictions under the community quarantine.

Labella is also open to meeting Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas and other mayors in Metro Cebu to discuss the return of traditional jeepneys.

Gullas earlier wrote to Labella to allow traditional jeepneys to enter Cebu City.

The request came after Labella issued an executive order allowing some 1,355 traditional public utility jeepneys to resume operation. - KQD (FREEMAN)