Traffic code changes backed

Two community stakeholders have expressed their support for a proposed legislation amending some provisions of City Ordinance 801, the Traffic Code of Cebu City.

Filed by Councilor Joel Garganera, the draft ordinance prohibits parking in roads at Bliss Housing in Barangay Labangon leading to Katipunan St., and in Tambis Circle, M. Oyson Jr. Rd. and M. Aznar Rd. in Barangay Sambag 2.

The councilor, who heads the committee on transportation, said the “indiscriminate parking” in these road-right-of-ways continue to pose danger to the safety of the residents.

The proposed measure gained the support of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Visayas and the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).

In a position paper submitted to the City Council dated June 1, LTO 7 Regional Director Alita Pulga said the measure is a “valid exercise of police power” as provided under Republic Act 7160, which allows local government units to regulate public roads.

“(This) office is amenable to the aforementioned proposals, since the purpose of regulating these streets is one way of decongesting traffic in the proposed areas,” said Pulga.

CCTO operations head Francisco Ouano, for his part, said there is a need to enforce the measure in order to render the roads passable, especially during emergencies and calamities.

“It will help decongest traffic and prohibit the owners to leave their vehicles unattended,” he said. /