Opposition: Increase in traffic fines is anti-poor

“ANTI-POOR.”

this was how Cebu City’s officials from the opposition bloc described the proposal of Mayor Tomas Osmeña to increase the fine for traffic violations to P3,000 from P1,000.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the proposed increase would affect public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, whose income may be just enough to help them get by.

“If he (mayor) makes it across-the-board, that is anti-poor. If it is only a very simple traffic violation, I think P3,000 is too much, considering there are a lot of poor drivers, especially those driving PUVs,” Labella said.

In an interview, he said increasing the traffic fines should not be the solution to the city’s traffic problems.

Instead, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) should urge its traffic enforcers to always be on the streets to direct traffic and not hide under the shade, he said.

Labella believes that the enforcers’ presence on the streets will deter motorists from violating traffic rules.

CCTO operations head Francisco “Isko” Ouano earlier said that if Osmeña’s plan pushes through, traffic violations that have a minimum penalty of P1,000 will be affected.

These include disregarding traffic signs like no entry and no U-turn, disregarding the go and stop signals, PUJ stops, no parking and stopping, among others.

Another opposition member, Councilor Joel Garganera, accused Osmeña of using the proposal to cover up for his failure to manage the city’s traffic situation.

Garganera recalled that earlier this year, Osmeña vetoed the Consolidated Traffic Ordinance, which incorporated all of the City’s traffic ordinances since the 1970s, including 61 amendments to the original traffic ordinance.

Ordinance

Opposition Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, for his part, urged the City to consult the drivers before increasing the fines.

“That has to pass through the process. It has to be done through an ordinance so that there would be a public hearing and we could hear the sides of the affected motorists,” Garcia said.

On the other hand, city councilors allied with Osmeña said they are ready to author the amendatory ordinance to increase the fines.

Councilor Dave Tumulak, who initially authored the ordinance that increased the penalty for traffic violations from P500 to P1,000, said he is willing to amend it again.

Councilors Augustus “Joy” Young and Jerry Guardo said the move to increase the fine is meant mainly to promote discipline among motorists, and not to increase the City’s revenues.

Osmeña’s way of disciplining erring motorists drew varied reactions from netizens.

“If you know how to follow the rules, you have nothing to fear,” Kuroi Oni said on Facebook. “Let’s see if drivers still err after the penalties shoot up.”

“This is a good move...” Burt Ajamedun said. “Maybe later they will increase it so the City can also make money.”

Some netizens pointed out, though, that while increasing the fines can help improve the traffic situation, a stricter enforcement of the law should be top priority.

“What’s the use of even increasing (the fine) to P3,000 when no one is stopped for violations?” Teddy Delfin wrote. “Way epek if dili i-epek ang balaud (The increase is useless if the laws are not enforced).”

“The huge elephant in the room is enforcement. It’s not rocket science. If someone cared and enforced laws, traffic would be better. INSTANTLY,” wrote Scott Remson. (from PAC of SuperBalita Cebu/JKV, JGS)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph