THE ordinance that required motorcycle drivers to wear reflectorized vests when driving in Cebu City roads will no longer take effect, said Mayor Tomas Osmeña Friday morning, April 6.
Osmeña made the decision after receiving "many texts about the council ordinance making reflectorized vests mandatory for motorcycle riders."
"Given your feedback, I will not let the ordinance to come into effect. We will find another way," he said in a Facebook post.
The Cebu City Council approved on March 20 the ordinance amending Article XXIV and Section 10 of Article XXV of City Ordinance (CO) 801, which establishes the Cebu City Traffic Code.
READ: Reflectorized vests required for bike riders
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the committee on public order and safety, sponsored the amendatory ordinance, which aims to curb road accidents.
Tumulak said 40 percent of the vehicular accidents recorded in Cebu City in the last 15 months involved motorcycles and most of them were caused by poor road visibility.
He said drivers have to wear the vests between 6 p.m. and daybreak, and the vests should meet the standards to be prescribed by the Cebu Cityh Transportation Office.
The amendatory ordinance also increases the existing administrative fines for traffic violators, prohibits the obstruction on pedestrian lanes and street intersections, and requires the wearing of reflective vests during the night for motorcycle riders.
The current administrative fine of P500 will now be P1,000.
If the violator cannot pay the fine, he will be required to render four hours of community service.
If charges are filed, the violator will be fined between P3,000 and P5,000, or imprisoned for six months. (With RTF/SunStar Philippines)