Probe, CITOM clear downtown sidewalks

CEBU, Philippines - A joint team composed of personnel from Cebu City Hall and the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) cleared the downtown sidewalks yesterday and confiscated stalls, pushcarts and even motorcycles that were placed on the sidewalks.

Raquel Arce, head of the City Hall’s Prevention Restoration Order and Beautification Enhancement (PROBE), said owners of the items they confiscated can still claim the items but they must pay a fine of P500 as provided for in the ordinance.

CITOM Operations Chief Jonathan “Joy” Tumulak said they confiscated close to 100 motorcycles after these were found parked on the sidewalks of the downtown area, obstructing the passage of the pedestrians.

Tumulak said drivers of the said motorcycles were issued Traffic Citation Tickets (TCT) and must settle their obligations to the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) within seven days.

Both Arce and Tumulak said they were just responding to complaints from pedestrians that they could not easily pass through the sidewalks because of so many obstacles that include vendors’ pushcarts and extended stalls.

“Amo g’yud ni nga himoon kada adlaw aron mapahapsay nato ang aseras. (We will do this every day to clear our sidewalks),” said Arce when interviewed by The Freeman.

Meanwhile, Arce said her personnel will finally clear the portion of Abay-Abay Junkshop occupying a sidewalk along Happy Valley in Barangay Labangon that is subject to the complaint of the barangay officials.

“Padad-an na namo og notice of violation ang tag-iya sa junkshop og sunod semana kon naa pa gihapon sa aseras, amo na nga sakmiton. (We will send a notice of violation to the junkshop owner and if it still remains on the sidewalk next week, we will confiscate it),” said Arce. (FREEMAN)