Mandaue City Council to decide on fate of rollerbladers, skateboarders

THE Mandaue City Council is deliberating on a proposed ordinance regulating roller skating and skate boarding in the city.

Councilor Elstone Dabon, who proposed the measure, voiced alarm over several road accidents caused by skating activities.

“As a step to lessen these kinds of misfortunes, it is better to regulate the use of roller skates, roller blades and roller boards on all public roads within the city’s jurisdiction, where big trucks and all types of motorized vehicles pass,” read the ordinance.

The council is set to deliberate the measure on third and final reading tomorrow, Wednesday.

Penalties

Once the ordinance is passed, the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue will designate areas for roller skaters and skate boarders.

Violators will pay a fine of not less than P500 and not more than P1,000 or face imprisonment of 10 to 15 days, or both if the court so decides.

The City will also confiscate the roller skates, roller blades or skate board. The items will be turned over to the Department of General Services.

Last Sunday, more than a hundred young men and women went skating in downtown Cebu City to celebrate the “Go Skateboarding Day”. They defied a city ordinance prohibiting skating in city streets, but law enforcers did not apprehend anyone as doing so might create commotion.

Ongoing construction

The skaters called for the City Government to designate places where they can safely practice their sport.

In Lapu-Lapu City, the construction of a skate park is ongoing.

Mayor Paz Radaza, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the P2.5-million project, said she saw the need to build the skate park to keep skaters away from the streets, where they are exposed to risks.

The skate park is being built inside the Hoopsdome compound in Barangay Gun-ob.

Radaza said building the facility is part of the City’s effort to promote itself as a sports tourism hub. (RSB)