60-day impoundment eyed vs trucks in SRP accidents

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is planning to draft an executive order that will seek to impound for 60 days trucks involved in accidents along the Cebu South Coastal Road at the South Road Properties due to the negligence of drivers and operators.

The plan comes after two vehicles — a trailer truck and a trailer van — figured in an accident along the CSCR on Wednesday dawn, causing a monstrous traffic that lasted 11 hours. The vehicles were reportedly trying to outrun each other on the way to the SRP viaduct.

The mayor quickly clarified, however, that he was not inclined to banning trucks from CSCR.

“There are some who say that we should ban the trucks, which I say we should never ban the trucks. I built the South Road Properties so that the trucks can use it because our long-term goal is not the traffic tomorrow, (but) traffic in the future years. And we are trying to create an atmosphere where the factories can move out into the province, that’s why we built a highway there,” he said.

“In other words, we are going to discourage truck owners from using (CSCR) during daytime unless they have full confidence in their drivers,” he added.

Osmeña reminded drivers to follow traffic rules to prevent road accidents that may also inconvenience other commuters and motorists. There is no date yet on when the EO will be signed. Osmeña said he will study the proposal first before signing it for implementation.

CCTO operations head Francisco “Isko” Ouano said that upon the orders of Osmeña, the two vehicles involved in Wednesday’s accident will be impounded for 30 days at the Big Foot Studio in the SRP.

The two-hectare covered-court is the holding area for all impounded vehicles since it is shaded, compared to the open area CCTO previously used at the SRP.

Before Osmeña unveiled his plan to issue an EO on the impoundment of trucks that figure in accidents at the SRP, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office head Nagiel Bañacia first recommended to the City Council increasing the penalties against drivers who fail to clear their trucks from the road immediately.

“Dunay taas nga penalty aron ang tanan, labi na ning mga trucking business aron duna sila’y sense of responsibility and urgency nga ma-extricate nila nga makuha nila ang ilang disabled nga vehicles,” Bañacia said.

Bañacia recommended increasing the fine 10 times, from the existing P500 to P5,000.

At his press conference, Osmeña welcomed Bañacia’s recommendation.

“That is the step in the right direction, but people will always think that they will not get caught. So we have to make them think in advance,” he said.

Asked for comment, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said he is in favor of the proposed move of Osmeña. In fact, he suggested imposing the order against all types of vehicles.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said the mayor should consult his legal counsel first before implementing the policy to ensure its feasibility and effectivity.

“He should let his legal team study it. His intentions may be good but his lawyers should advise him on the legal ramifications of said action,” she said.