Talisay to intensify towing operations

Illegally parked vehicles along the streets in Talisay City would be removed soon to improve its traffic flow, particularly in the interior portion of the city.

City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority (CTTODA) Head Almond Dela Peña said they received reports that there are a number of abandoned vehicles parked at the side of the streets in the city.

Dela Peña, together with Talisay Police Chief Marlu Conag, toured the city streets and found a Mazda car with plate number KBS 957that was parked in Barangay Dumlog that hampered the traffic flow of the two-lane road.

Conag said they will trace the owner of the vehicle. The residents informed them that the vehicle has been parked there for about a month already.

It was also reported that Tabunok underpass was cleared from queuing tricycles, jeepneys and habal-habal after they have set a temporary terminal. The move has improved the traffic flow in Barangay Tabunok.

Also, the Cebu 2nd District Engineering wing of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also helped in the removal of vehicles parked along the highway of their jurisdiction.

Last week, DPWH Paralegal, Maintenance and Planning Department Engr. Valrico Tomol, together with their area engineer Christian Bernido, went to the police station to seek assistance of removing those obstructions along the national highway.

Soon, the DPWH will form a task force that would apprehend illegally parked vehicles that stopped for more than 10 minutes, a vehicle with no driver, the engine is stopped and the hand break is activated.

They would also apprehend sidewalk vendors, vulcanizing shops, carwash, and canopies.

Also, they are hoping that they would be deputized by the Land Transportation Office for them to issue Temporary Operator's Permit and will cooperate with CTTODA and other agencies for the implementation of their task force.

Meanwhile, Dela Peña said they would soon start apprehending tricycles with no franchise traveling in the city.

With the implementation of the temporary terminal, all vehicles were mandated to load and unload passengers only inside the terminal.

He observed that after the terminal was used, the number of tricycles traversing along Talisay has reduced to 15 percent.

He said that the city only allowed 1800 tricycles in the city. However, he estimated that there are about 3,500 tricycles operating currently, which is one of the reasons of the traffic congestion.

At present, CTTODA estimated about 2,900 tricycles travelling in the city.