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Thursday, July 06, 2006
Pledge ‘only for Mandaue PUJs’
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña clarified yesterday that only drivers of Mandaue-bound jeepneys will not be apprehended for violating City Ordinances 1837 and 2072 in the next three months.
Osmeña said that contrary to what he thought, he has no authority to suspend the implementation of ordinances and he can only lift the restrictions on Mandaue drivers.
“It’s only the drivers from Mandaue because I can’t suspend the enforcement of the ordinance. I thought I could, that’s why I told you the other day that I would but I am just told that I cannot,” he told reporters.
The mayor said he will leave it to the City Council to decide what to do with the drivers and the ordinances since he cannot decide on the matter without the approval of the council.
Until the council itself lifts the restrictions on the drivers of Mandaue-bound jeepneys, nothing is final yet, he said.
Osmeña said that in effect, he is violating the law by exempting some drivers from the implementation of City Ordinance 2072 because his oath of office directs him to implement all laws at all times.
Upon the request of the governor, Osmeña decided last Monday to direct Citom not to apprehend in the next 90 days any Mandaue jeepney driver who violates City Ordinance 1837, which prohibits inter-city jeepneys from loading and unloading passengers outside the designated terminals.
Ordinance 2072 empowers the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) to impound upon third offense the vehicles of drivers who violate Ordinance 1837.
“I could be held criminally liable for that, I can even lose my job. What I said was technically in error but the intention is there, we’re going to pursue it so it becomes a reality. But if the council doesn’t approve it, then it doesn’t happen and I hope the governor understands,” he added.
As for the drivers’ request for a discount on the fines imposed on them, Osmeña said he is willing to give a 50 percent discount depending on the offense and as long as they are not from Talisay City.
Bigger discount
And if the driver is a registered voter in Cebu City, he said he will give a bigger discount.
At the City Council, member Jocelyn Pesquera appealed for the drivers to obey Ordinance 1837 pending the approval of her proposed ordinance.
In a proposed measure amending Ordinance 1320, Pesquera introduced two new Mandaue City routes and modified the travel lines for those with 21B and 22B route descriptions.
Ordinance 1320 regulates the operation of PUJs in the city and specifies the routes and the respective travel lines.
In her proposal, 21B and 22B PUJs could still traverse Osmeña Blvd. and reach Colon St., which the Mandaue drivers had been fighting for.
To help decongest Osmeña Blvd., Pesquera introduced two new routes, which will only be up to the Ayala Mall terminal.
Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo chairman Anthony Pogado made the same appeal, saying drivers should just wait for Monday, which Osmeña said is the start of the 90-day reprieve he gave. (LCR/RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 6, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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