No-parking ordinance in 2 Cebu City brgys proposed

CEBU, Philippines - Aiming to ease the traffic situation in Barangays Labangon and Sambag 1, a proposed legislation banning vehicles to park along the streets in these barangays is being studied by the Cebu City Council.

Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the council committee on transportation, authored the proposed legislation, which said that the city should impose “no parking” and “tow away zones” in Bliss Housing in Barangay Labangon, leading to Katipunan Street both sides, Tambis Circle, M. Oyson Jr. Road, and M. Aznar Road in Barangay Sambag 1.

“Indiscriminate parking or placement of other contraptions in the cited road-right-of-ways continues to pose danger to the safety of the residents in the said areas,” read Garganera’s proposed ordinance.

During the public hearing last June 6, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) -7 and Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) expressed their support on the proposed ordinance.

Garganera said CCTO conducted an inspection of the areas and recommended the installation of “no parking anytime” signs to inform motorists.

“The roads should be free from the presence of those illegally parked vehicles that hamper the flow of vehicular traffic especially emergency vehicles like police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks,” he said.

Garganera pushed the amendment under the existing City Ordinance 801, otherwise known as An Ordinance Establishing the Traffic Code of Cebu City.

In his position paper, CCTO operations head Francisco Ouano said the proposed measure would prohibit owners of vehicles to park along the sidewalk.

“This proposed ordinance will help decongest the traffic situation on the street mentioned by the said proposed ordinance,” said Ouano.

With this, he said his office will conduct information dissemination should the proposed measure be approved by the City Council.

In a position paper submitted to the council, LTO-7 Director Alita Pulga said the measure is a “valid exercise” of police power.

“Regulating these proposed areas is a valid exercise of police power as provided under RA 7160 wherein the Local Government Unit has the power to use and regulate public roads under the general welfare clause,” Pulga said.

She said the purpose of regulating the mentioned streets is one way of decongesting traffic in the concerned areas.

The City Council will still have its final deliberation on the proposed measure. —/JBB (FREEMAN)