Cebu City to implement executive order next week
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the policy to impound vehicles counterflowing will be implemented next week.
In his press conference yesterday, the mayor said he is just giving the warning this week and the full implementation will start as soon as he will sign and issue the executive order.
“I am not interested in fine. I'll just keep the vehicles for 30 days. No storage fee. Free storage fee cause people who have money will just pay,” he told reporters.
Osmeña said he has been receiving complaints from the public that several motorists are violating traffic rules deliberately counterflowing to avoid the long queue of vehicles.
He said it will take two to three days for him to complete and sign the executive order which he said will be implemented next week.
Under the City's Traffic Code, Cebu City Transportation Office Head Francisco Ouano said those who will be caught counterflowing will be asked to pay the P500 fine.
For the impounding, motorcycle drivers will pay P100 storage fee per day, P300 for delivery trucks, and P500 for trailer trucks.
Osmeña said he is not amending the existing ordinance but he is just imposing a sanction on those who will violate since some of the accidents are caused because of counterflowing vehicles.
Last Wednesday, he said the CCTO has caught an armored car counterflowing but was freed since the executive order has not been signed yet.
“But it's an abuse. Let this be a warning to armored cars, I'll cancel your business permit,” he said.
Osmeña agreed to the suggestion of Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia to hire more traffic enforcers to ensure that the policy will be thoroughly implemented.
When asked of a big impounding area for the implementation of the policy, the mayor said it will be resolved when the time comes since he is still focusing on instilling the fear so that no one will be caught violating the policy.
“If you are in a state of emergency, you are exempted. If your wife is bleeding and you will go to the hospital, you are exempted,” he added.
Garcia said he is supporting the matter since it will instill discipline among the motorists.
Councilor Joel Garganera said he is also supporting the move as it would improve the traffic flow in the city. He said that motorists who will follow the law will not be worried about the move.
Councilor Renato Osmeña, Jr., nephew of the mayor, said he is also supporting the move and make Cebu City as a “fine city” wherein all violators will be fined to instill discipline.