BALAMBAN Mayor Amos Edwin Cabahug has requested an augmentation of at least eight to 10 police officers along the Transcentral Highway (TCH) to address rising concerns over noise pollution, illegal drag racing and over-speeding by motorcycle riders.
In a letter dated Friday, July 18, 2025, addressed to Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) Acting Director Col. Christopher Bermudez, Cabahug said the issues along the highway have become a provincial concern. He added that the local police force is unable to adequately respond due to limited manpower and distance.
The TCH, which connects Balamban to Cebu City, has reportedly become a hotspot for motorcycle exhibitions, illegal drag races and gatherings, especially during nighttime. These activities have caused serious disturbances to nearby residents and commuters, the mayor said.
Among the issues raised were:
• Vehicular collisions and crashes due to over-speeding and not following traffic rules and regulations.
• Illegal parking of motorcycles and other vehicles, specifically on blind curves.
• Illegal drag racing at TCH, accompanied by
illegal gambling.
• Excessive noises generated from motorcycles with illegally modified mufflers that disturb the peace of locals within the vicinity, especially at night, which leads to hostile encounters between some of the locals and motorcycle riders.
The letter emphasized that the situation has escalated beyond the capacity of barangay or municipal authorities and urged the provincial police to deploy a dedicated team under the supervision of the Balamban Municipal Police Station to patrol and enforce regulations along the TCH.
The CPPO received the letter on the same day, as acknowledged by Lt. Honey Quiritao.
In a report from SunStar on July 12, Cabahug had formally initiated legislation to regulate both noise levels and speed limits along the TCH. He submitted these proposed measures with a “Certificate of Urgency” to the local Sangguniang Bayan on July 11, via Balamban’s official Facebook page, “Balamban Karon.” / CDF