Osmeña accuses Archival: “Biggest violator”

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has accused Mayor Nestor Archival of being the city’s biggest traffic rules violator, an allegation that overshadowed the City Council’s executive session on the controversial Oplan Ban-Tal Discipline Zone.

The two top city officials, who were running mates in the last elections, have reportedly been at odds in recent months, with Archival often brushing aside Osmeña’s criticisms.

The latest accusation placed the mayor at the center of the debate over discipline and credibility in Cebu City’s traffic management efforts.

“They talk about disciplining the public… how can they discipline the public when the biggest violator is Mayor Nestor himself,” Osmeña said.

“He uses his motorcycle to break through the traffic… the mayor himself should set the example, he’s the biggest violator,” he added.

Osmeña said he has been receiving text messages reporting Archival’s alleged disregard for the same traffic rules the city government wants the public to follow. He said ordinary motorists also resent being told to comply with traffic regulations while VIPs and public officials with motorcycle escorts allegedly “muscle their way through traffic.”

“This is insulting to the public. Then we tell the public you have to have discipline, pero naa’y pili-pili. If you want to instill discipline, the example should be set from above,” he said.

The vice mayor further claimed that even Archival’s girlfriend was being given escorts.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) Assistant Department Head Atty. Kent Jongoy, however, defended the mayor.

“Mayor Archival is the number one promoter of the discipline zone,” Jongoy said, noting that the mayor follows traffic lights and pedestrian crossings and even uses a public address system in his vehicle to remind riders to stay within motorcycle lanes.

But when pressed by Councilor Sisinio Andales on whether the mayor was authorized to have multiple motorcycle escorts, Jongoy admitted that the CCTO had no record of such arrangements, explaining that escorts fall under the Office of the Mayor and not the traffic office.

The executive session was called to review the August 5-6 dry run of the Banilad-Talamban traffic scheme and hear complaints from stakeholders.

Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover stressed that the council’s role was to ensure that traffic management plans are properly authorized, adequately communicated and technically sound.

He said motorists, habal-habal drivers, business establishments and barangay officials had raised concerns over what they described as a lack of consultation and poor preparation.

Ceasar Ramirez, general manager of Gaisano Country Mall, said the mall was caught off guard by the sudden diversion of motorcycles into its property.

“We were not prepared on the volume… the safety of customers at the drop-off point was compromised,” Ramirez explained, although he acknowledged that adjustments made the following day helped restore normal operations.

Habal-habal drivers also aired stronger grievances.

Giovanni Lumayno of the Cebu City Habal-Habal Drivers Association said their livelihood was disrupted because they were not consulted before the scheme was implemented.

Ariel Sarsaba of One Drivers Solidarity Philippines added that no representative from the two-wheel sector was present during the Traffic Management Council meeting on August 7.

He argued that the motorcycle lane was not truly exclusive because four-wheel vehicles continued to encroach on it. He also questioned why riders were being ticketed during what was supposed to be an experimental phase.

“If this is experimental, information drive should come first, not tickets,” Sarsaba said.

Banilad Barangay Captain Lea Japson also confirmed that she had not been consulted before the implementation. She noted, however, that the city quickly lifted the motorcycle restriction at the Foodland flyover on August 6 after seeing its impact on traffic.

Japson suggested studying the possibility of relocating the motorcycle lane to the center of the road to avoid conflicts with jeepney loading and unloading areas.

Jongoy maintained that the CCTO had conducted consultations, citing a July 30 meeting, advisories posted on Facebook and aired over radio, tarpaulins and a dry run from August 1 to 4 before strict enforcement began on August 5.

He admitted, however, that heavy rains affected attendance at some meetings and that some letters may not have reached stakeholders.

Alcover remained unconvinced, saying the lack of participation from Barangay Banilad and other sectors showed serious gaps in the process.

“Anything we impose must have clear public consultation,” he insisted, adding that Facebook posts and tarpaulins were not enough if directly affected stakeholders were not formally invited.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla acknowledged that his office had received an invitation and argued that resistance to new systems was natural.

Andales, meanwhile, compared the situation to the Bus Rapid Transit project, which he said was chaotic at first but eventually stabilized.

Despite the disputes, the CCTO said another consultation with Banilad and other stakeholders was scheduled immediately to further refine the implementation.

The current Oplan Ban-Tal covers 5.7 kilometers of Governor Manuel A. Cuenco Avenue and includes 14 PUV lay-bys, rehabilitated road markings and traffic signs, motorcycle lane enforcement, anti-jaywalking measures, sidewalk clearing and the deployment of more than 113 personnel. — (FREEMAN)