July 16, 2022

Upon the invitation of Cebu City Traffic Management Coordination Committee chairman Atty. Rico Rey Francis Holganza, traffic officials from the tri-cities had an exploratory meeting on Thursday.
Those who attended the meeting with Holganza were Jonathan Tumulak of the Talisay City Traffic Operations and Development Authority, Arnold Malig-on, operations chief of Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM ), and TEAM director Edwin Jumao-as.

Tumulak said they have agreed during the meeting to synchronize their implementation of the traffic rules to avoid confusion among the motorists.

DISCIPLINE ZONE

Meanwhile, Cebu City will implement a traffic discipline zone for public utility vehicles (PUV) and commuters along Colon Street. This means that the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will strictly enforce the traffic rules, especially on loading and unloading areas.

As reported by the city’s Public Information Office (PIO), this was among the matters the traffic coordination committee discussed during their first ever meeting Wednesday, which was presided over by Holganza.

“This is a very important committee. Hopefully, we can come up with something concrete for the City kay daghan og problems nga giatiman in terms of traffic,” said Holganza.

The committee talked about the need for the city government to strictly enforce the proper loading and unloading zones.

Holganza stated his observation that both modern and traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) would just stop in any area to pick up passengers, causing congestion.

He said the committee aims to have the traffic discipline zone implementation in the entire city, and they designated Colon Street as a pilot area.

In relation to this, they passed a resolution directing the CCTO to meet with the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO)–Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) and transport sector representatives to study the move.

They will also need to develop a “sensible” traffic management plan for the pilot area.

The city government will begin the implementation of the traffic discipline zone as soon as the plan is finalized.

Ellen Maghanoy, committee member who represents the PUV operators, supported the said proposal.

Maghanoy said that aside from PUV drivers, enforcers should also apprehend and reprimand commuters who violate the designated loading and unloading areas.

Meanwhile, CCTO officer-in-charge Paul Gotiong also disclosed that they have installed new and clear traffic signages in designated areas that are easily seen by drivers and commuters.

During the meeting, the committee also passed a resolution asking the CCTO to intensify the apprehension of unauthorized use of sirens and blinkers by private vehicles, which is prohibited.

This, as Holganza received reports on instances wherein private individuals utilize such devices to blatantly disregard traffic signs.

The Land Transportation Office also reminds the public of the prohibition on the unauthorized use of wang-wang or sirens and blinkers, amid the reported proliferation of the device on major thoroughfares.

LTO Officer-in-Charge Atty. Romeo G. Vera Cruz in a statement said that motorists  who are not authorized to use wang-wang, blinkers, and other similar devices should remove these or face the consequences under the law. — with Gabriel Bonjoc and and Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, FPL (FREEMAN)