SINCE last Thursday, Dec. 13, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has released 100 motorcycles as part of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s “spot amnesty” to owners of motorcycles that were impounded for counterflowing.
But before they can get their motorcycles, owners must undergo a two-hour lecture and pass an exam on traffic rules, said CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano. That way, they are reminded of the rules they need to follow when on the road.
Only then will their motorcycles be released, regardless of the number of days these have been in storage, Ouano said.
The lectures are held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 10 a.m. to noon. Afternoon lectures are held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. These are held at the CCTO on the second floor of the Barangay Cogon-Ramos Public Market.
“In apprehending them, we always ask them if they understand why we need to do it and if they are aware of their violations. The lecture will refresh them on the traffic rules and will let them be aware of their violations so that they will not commit them again. The exam serves as a validation if they have learned something,” Ouano said.
Osmeña had announced he would grant “spot amnesty” to owners of impounded motorcycles as a temporary solution to the banning of motorcycles-for-hire (habal-habal) after the Supreme Court issued last Dec. 12 a temporary restraining order against a Mandaluyong court ruling that prohibited law enforcers from apprehending Angkas drivers.
Ouano stressed that only motorcycles are covered by the “spot amnesty.” Impounded four-wheeled vehicles are excluded, he said.
It also does not apply to vehicles that were impounded on Dec. 15, or two days after Osmeña granted the “spot amnesty.”