SEEING the lack of implementation of some traffic laws, the City Government will launch a project aimed to bring back order on Cagayan de Oro’s major roads and streets.
Lawyer Edgardo Uy, the city consultant on traffic affairs and head of the Task Force Hapsay Dalan, said Tuesday they will make the Divisoria area a traffic code-compliant zone.
Uy said the plan is to make Divisoria a pilot project and once it is successful, they will make it into a model that will be replicated in other parts of the city, particularly in Cogon and Carmen markets, C.M. Recto Avenue (along the malls), Corrales Avenue, and Osmeña Street.
“Eventually, the entire city will be covered (by the project),” he added.
He said the project will be launched once the weather is favorable for the painting of road markings such as crosswalks and yellow and white boxes.
The project was supposed to start early this week, but it was put on hold due to the bad weather.
At present, Uy added, many of the motorists and pedestrians have no regard on the city’s traffic ordinances.
“Sa Divisoria, bisan sa lang motabok ang mga tawo (At Divisoria, people cross anywhere),” he said.
Added to this is the indiscriminate loading and unloading of passengers by the jeepneys despite presence of designated areas (yellow boxes).
But prior to the full implementation, Uy said they will conduct massive public information campaign and education.
Part of the project is the prohibition of ‘trisikad’ (pedicab) in the city’s 40 urban barangays.
Public utility jeepney drivers are likewise required to wear proper attire and their vehicles must be road-worthy and presentable, he added.
Wheel clamps
Uy said the traffic enforcers will introduce wheel clamps as part of its traffic law implementation.
Wheel clamps are devices used to immobilize illegally park vehicles.
At present, the city has six wheel clamps donated by a Chinese group and five more of the clamps are coming, he said.
“For the detachment of the clamps, motorists will have to pay P500. Their vehicles will be towed after a few hours when motorists will not pay the penalty. An illegal parking fee will also be collected,” Uy said.
He said: “We hope that by repeatedly imposing penalties, and enforcing the provisions, we hope the public will finally learn to comply.”
For instance, a jaywalking violator will pay around P20 to P50 per violation.
The amount may be small but “sakit na kung mag balik-balik ka (bayad),” he said.
The traffic laws that will be enforced already exist; they just need to be implemented.