CEBU City streets will soon be free from unauthorized public utility vehicle dispatchers.

The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has resumed the strict implementation of City Ordinance (CO) 1219 or the ordinance declaring as unlawful the acts of dispatching, “watch your car” and other similar acts since Monday.

Lawyer Rafael Christopher Yap, acting department head of CCTO, said that the move came after his office received numerous complaints against the allegedly illegal dispatching operation all over the city.

Yap said dispatchers blocked the flow of traffic because they will compel drivers to park and wait for more passengers, so they can collect more fees. Some of them are even waiting in places that have not been designated loading and unloading areas.

During the first day of the implementation of the anti-dispatching ordinance last Monday, eight dispatchers were apprehended by CCTO.

Yap said that aside from their traffic enforcers, a team from the traffic group of the Cebu City Police Office is also assisting CCTO in enforcing the ordinance.

A special team from CCTO was also formed to concentrate on the implementation of CO 1219 and to issue citation tickets to violators.

Under CO 1219, dispatching is defined as the act of procuring or soliciting or feigning to procure, solicit, or meeting or escorting passengers or would-be passengers to a passenger bus, truck, pick-up or jeepney, regardless as to whether such act is done under the direction of the operator, driver of conductor of such vehicle and is done with or without collecting and demanding fees.

On the other hand, “watch your car” refers to those acts performed by a person standing on any city street and other public place waiting for private vehicles wherein he beckons the owner or driver to park the vehicle and charges him for watching over the car.

As penalty under CO 1219, those who will be caught dispatching will be fined not less than P3,000 or six months imprisonment or both as determined by the court.