Dumaguete Traffic Ordinance Proposed
A regulatory traffic ordinance is being proposed by Dumaguete City Councilor Alan Gel Cordova which could somehow alleviate the worsening traffic situation of the city. It is proposed that a clearance from the Traffic Management Office (TMO) stating that there are no unpaid traffic violation fines and/or penalties will be part of the documentary requirements for the renewal of the mayor’s permit or franchise or for business to be issued to tricycles and public utility vehicles with routes in the streets of Dumaguete City. For the year 2016, fines for traffic violations of tricycles and public utility vehicles were collected but for those committed by private vehicles, only 40% were collected.
City councilor Estanislao Alviola also commented on the very minimal amount to be paid by traffic violators, who don’t mind paying P100 as long as they can park their vehicles anywhere. Acting city treasurer Cristina Merced confirmed that the P100 fine can be reduced to P50 by an adjudication of a committee composed of three members. TMO chief Danilo Atillo said that the reduced amount for parking violations is being abused and is asking the Sangguniang Panlungsod to look into the traffic ordinances of the city.