BanTal scheme shows early progress, City Hall says

CEBU, Philippines — Despite criticism labeling the Banilad–Talamban Discipline Zone (BanTal DZ) as “anti-poor,” Cebu City officials report improvement by pointing to figures indicating fewer motorcycle crashes, faster peak-hour travel times, and higher compliance since its rollout last month.

The initiative, they said, is proving to be a safety measure rather than a burden on riders.

Mayor Nestor Archival’s chief of staff Kenneth Siasar reported a steady decline in motorcycle-related crashes: 66 in June, 59 in July, and 43 in August.

Travel times during the morning rush have also improved, he said.

“From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., northbound travel used to take one hour and 30 minutes. Now, it has been reduced to 51 minutes. Southbound travel is recorded at 39 minutes,” Siasar said.

Siasar addressed criticisms that the policy discriminates against riders.

“We have seen online comments calling the policy ‘anti-poor,’ but this is not the case. Motorcycle-focused enforcement is designed to safeguard vulnerable motorists and passengers, prevent counter-flowing, and strictly enforce existing traffic rules rather than penalize riders,” he clarified.

He added that compliance has improved.

“Violations have decreased compared to the first two weeks of implementation. Riders are increasingly adhering to designated lanes even without traffic personnel present,” he said.

The BanTal DZ was fully implemented on August 5, 2026, under Oplan BanTal, a pilot program by the city government to address chronic congestion along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, covering barangays Apas, Kasambagan, Banilad, and Talamban. The corridor has long been afflicted by bottlenecks and frequent accidents.

Under the scheme, motorcycles must stay in the rightmost lane, public utility vehicles (PUVs) are required to use designated lay-bys, and pedestrians must cross only at marked lanes or footbridges.

Violations are penalized under existing ordinances, with fines ranging from P50 to P200 for jaywalking to P1,000 for illegal stopping or crossing double solid lines.

Officials stressed that no new fines were introduced and the program simply enforces existing rules more strictly.

Archival explained earlier, “This is not just about issuing citations. The goal is to improve traffic discipline because everyone using the road has a responsibility.”

The BanTal corridor previously recorded 20 to 30 daily apprehensions, with 90 percent of those involving motorcycles.

Officials said the surge in motorcycle ownership has outpaced the provisions of Cebu’s 1972 traffic code.

To modernize enforcement, the city is exploring AI-enabled traffic cameras, stricter drunk-driving checks using breath analyzers, and grassroots traffic education programs in schools.

Over the weekend, Archival, together with City Transportation Office Head Raquel Arce and Assistant Department Head Atty. Kent Francesco Jongoy met with traffic personnel to assess conditions on the ground.

The mayor emphasized the importance of listening to enforcers’ experiences to refine strategies and strengthen traffic enforcement.

City Hall is continuing to collect data, and if accident rates remain low and compliance is consistent, officials plan to expand the Discipline Zone to other areas.

Archival said the initiative is more than a traffic experiment—it is a bid to instill discipline and build a safer, more livable city. — (FREEMAN)