New traffic chief make presence known

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Rey Gealon, the new executive director of the Cebu City Traffic Office, hit the streets yesterday to “feel” the job of a traffic enforcer.

“Right now, I just want the feel of the street not just a passenger of jeepneys before, or a driver of a private motor vehicle, but at the same time, what it feels to be with our men on the ground, ” he said.

“As early as now, I can feel that our traffic enforcers deserve the best. I am for the payment of these enforcers who are exposing themselves not only to the elements like heat of the sun, dust, noise and complaints, but also to the physical harm,” he added.

Gealon said he wants to lobby for hazard pay for traffic enforcers.

Yesterday, Gealon together with other CITOM personnel had a walkthrough along Osmeña Boulevard.

“The presence of the executive director is always there whether in the office or in the streets, such that the enforcers in the streets that I know the situation there, and in the office, you are always doing our best to plan which is the best way to solve traffic concerns within the city,” he added.

The team warned motorists who own motorcycles, as well as those who park illegally along sidewalks that CITOM will be stricter in implementing the city’s traffic code.

While no citation tickets were issued, the team reprimanded drivers of public utility jeepneys who were caught stopping at no stopping zones.

Gealon said the exercise was a way of informing the public that the traffic office is not merely after fines but is serious in disciplining both drivers and passengers because the same is a big factor in improving the traffic flow.

“First order of the day is stricter implementation of the traffic code of the city. This is our first step towards many steps in disciplining the drivers and the passengers,” he said.

“Because, the essence of strict implementation will go down to the smooth traffic flow of the city. Otherwise, if jeepneys will stop everywhere, there will be clogging up in our streets on account of narrow streets,” he added.

Mayor Michael Rama’s memorandum on Gealon’s appointment reads:

“In the exigency of the service, you are hereby designated as Acting Executive Director of Cebu City Transportation Office vice of Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap who is assigned to head the Bus Rapid Transit Project,” the memorandum reads.

Yap, in another interview, said he welcomes Gealon to the team as he awaits a separate memorandum from Rama detailing his new set of responsibilities.

“We are happy, I am thankful that the mayor has the proceedings to keep me with CITOM. We welcome Atty. Gealon that he will bring good things to the organization,” he said.

Gealon said he already transferred his voter’s registration in Cebu City from Argao last Friday. He was reportedly born here.

He tendered his resignation as Argao Councilor last week. Just this Monday, he said that the Sangguniang Bayan in Argao has already issued a resolution adopting his resignation. While in Argao, he chaired the town Council’s committee on transportation during his first term as councilor.

He also worked in the media in the past particularly with BomboRadyo as reporter and eventually as public affairs anchor.

He admits: “I am not an expert in traffic really. The presence of traffic engineers at the office of CCTO will help me because I can always refer to them. There are traffic engineers, there are urban planners, all sectors are represented there especially in the board. What I can effectively do is to manage traffic in coordination with these traffic experts,” he said. — (FREEMAN)