Discipline Zone Project – Number of Offenses 2019
Dumaguete City Discipline Zone Project was launched in 2017 by Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo. From February 2018 to December 2018 about 12, 600 citation tickets were issued. While from January to August 2019 only about 11, 200 citation tickets were issued.
Discipline Zone Project in Dumaguete City
Dumaguete city has been consistently clearing the roads since February 2018 before president Duterte issued the laudable directive to all other local chief executives on July 22, 2019. Some 24, 853 violators have been penalized with fines totaling approximately P 6.4 million for obstructing the flow of traffic since launching of the Discipline Zone Project, created by the administration of Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government in February 2018, long before President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the clearing of roads from obstruction.
From February 2018 to December 2018 about 12, 664 citation tickets were issued for the following offenses:
- 9, 484 were apprehended for Illegal Parking
- 557 for various types of road obstructions
- 1, 556 for parking on the sidewalk
- 198 vehicles were impounded
- 529 for disregarding traffic signs
- 340 for violating the smoke-free ordinance
From January to August 2019 about 11, 206 citation tickets were issued for the following offenses:
- 3, 275 for illegal parking
- 1, 324 for various types of road obstructions
- 3, 956 for parking on the sidewalk
- 1, 412 for littering, jaywalking, illegal vending etc.
- 302 vehicles were impounded
- 1, 805 for disregarding traffic signs
- 115 for violating the smoke-free ordinance
Various streets signs have been replaced with newer plates since December 2018 including the maintenance of street lights and CCTV cameras to greatly improve road safety, which is consistent with the Memorandum Circular 2019-121 of DILG.
Since the start of the Discipline Zone Project, Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo emphasized that the enforcers of the discipline zone must be consistent, regardless of the social status of the offending parties including big establishments, so that they will not be accused of favoring anyone, which will be counter-productive to the noble cause of the project.
Councilor Michael Bandal, who was appointed as the lead officer of the project, also stressed the need to convince the public that the discipline zone project is not passing fancy but rather an earnest effort to reclaim the sidewalks from vendors, street dwellers, and business establishments to clear the streets from obstructions.
There have been many instances when the enforcers were accosted, defied and harassed by recalcitrant and cantankerous motorists/violators, some of whom are rich and influential but they persevered and never yielded to fear, favor and pressure.
Nevertheless, the Remollo administration will continue to enhance and expand the Discipline Zone Project both in compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s orders and out of the genuine objective and concern to clear the streets of all types of obstructions and improve traffic flow.
The Discipline Zone Project was launched in February 2017 by Mayor Remollo to clear obstructions and restore order in the major city streets with the cooperation of Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, Liga ng mga Barangays, Provincial Highway Patrol Team, Department of Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Special Enforcement Unit, Tourist Police, Traffic Management Office and Department of Public Works and Highways to enforce with zero tolerance all applicable laws and local ordinances.
