AFTER the Cebu Provincial Board approved his ordinance called “Fender Bender Ordinance,” which mandates drivers of vehicles involved in accidents in the national highways to take photos of the scene using their mobile phones and pull out the vehicles immediately, Sixth District Provincial Board (PB) Member Glenn Anthony Soco is pushing another “crazy” ordinance. This time, the measure seeks to penalize drivers who would not be able to pull aside vehicles that break down in the middle of the main highways within five minutes. Please take note—“within five minutes.”
In his Fender Bender Ordinance, maybe Soco thinks that all drivers carry cameras and own smartphones. Presumptuous and impractical.
Called the “Due Diligence Ordinance of 2019,” the measure is now scheduled for third and final reading after the PB approved it in second reading during their session last Monday.
The proposed ordinances shall apply to all motor vehicles that may encounter breakdown due to mechanical failure, including engine trouble, low or empty fuel, flat or depleted tire, electrical malfunction and other defects that may cause a breakdown.
Soco said his measure is aimed at preventing vehicular breakdowns along the national highways of the province that may cause traffic congestion.
Soco said it should be the responsibility of the owners and drivers to see to it that their vehicles should always be in tip-top condition before using these. All the time, vehicles should always be road-worthy.
The ordinance carries the penalty of P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for the third offense.
Maybe Soco thinks that all people can own brand new or conditioned vehicles like him. He is rich so he can afford to buy the most expensive car in the world. In fact, he drives expensive and flashy cars.
We cannot prevent incidents from happening, Mr. Soco. Can you tell when your tire would be depleted or your car lose battery power or the engine conk out?
You want the owner or driver to pull out the vehicle along the highway within five minutes? What about those cargo trucks of 10-wheeler trucks? Can the driver and his assistant pull out these vehicles within five minutes? Try it yourself, let’s see if you can do it alone without anybody helping you.
Automatic vehicles cannot be pushed. What if you are alone and you encounter mechanical defect, where will you ask for help? You will seek the assistance of some “tambays” (bystanders) in the area or from a fellow driver who would pass by the area. Can you look for people to help you within five minutes? Crazy and impractical ordinance.
Maybe, Mr. Soco thinks that owners and drivers are Superman? What about if the driver is a woman and she encountered mechanical defect at night? Be considerate sometimes,
Mr. Soco.
Why not give a budget to each municipality or clustered municipalities to buy equipment and train people to rescue those drivers in distress, like in the south and north expressways in Luzon. Boss, Glenn, paghuna-huna pud diha og mga maayong ordinance nga practical ug beneficial.
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Will the water crisis of the past years be solved with the assumption of the new Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) board? I think so.
Three of the five members of the board of directors, former city councilor Joey Daluz, lawyer-broadcaster-columnist Frank Malilong and businessman Mike Pato appointed by Mayor Edgardo Labella, took their oath before the mayor the other day.
They replaced the former board members who were appointed by “has-been” mayor Tomas Osmeña who were terminated by Labella. Former councilor Coping Fernandez, who was appointed during Vice Mayor Mike Rama’s previous term as mayor, was considered.
I don’t know what happened to the two other appointees, former mayor Alvin Garcia and lawyer Manolette Dinsay, why they were not included in the oath taking.
Maybe there were questions on the sector they represented. With Malilong, who is a “water diviner,” in the board, there is a big possibility that they can find solutions to the water problem confronting MCWD.
Dili na tawon mabilar si lawyer Eddie Barrita ug bantay sa tubig kung kanus-a moagas matag kadlawon aron magsawod. Alas dos man siya sa kadlawon magbantay. Karon alas tres na siguro siya magsawod.