CCTO: No counterflow violator in 3 days

CEBU, Philippines —  For three consecutive days, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has not impounded any vehicle for violating the anti-counterflowing policy.

CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano told The FREEMAN he is happy with the development that the drivers are now abiding by the city’s traffic rule.

“Wala ta’y nadakpan gyud. Naleksyon na siguro sila kay grabe man atong enforcement sa policy,” he said.

He admitted that this is the first time that there are no violators recorded within three days.

Since December 14 up to December 16, traffic enforcers have not apprehended drivers of private cars, public utility vehicles (PUVs) and motorcycles defying the policy.

He is hopeful that this good development will continue so that they can declare that the implementation of the anti-counterflowing is successful.

Since the policy has been strictly enforced last February this year, record showed that there are around 8,000 impounded motorcycles, vehicles and others.

The Bigfoot Studio at the South Road Properties (SRP) serves as the impounding area.

Ouano, however, emphasized that they will continue enforcing the law even though they have instilled discipline already to the drivers.

The traffic authority implemented Executive Order 34 or the anti-counterflowing policy which penalizes erring drivers by having their motorcycles, vehicles and others impounded for 30 days.

The EO provides that all forms of reckless driving specifically “driving left” or commonly known as counterflowing is prohibited.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña released the order to discipline the drivers and minimize vehicular accidents.

Meanwhile, there are over 100 impounded motorcycles that have been released by CCTO following Osmeña’s “spot amnesty” last Thursday.

Based on CCTO’s record, there are at least 2,500 confiscated motorcycles subject for release.

But only few owners have claimed their respective units since majority are not informed with the recent announcement of the mayor.

“Ang uban wala pa kahibaw, gamay pa ang nahibaw. Until naa mokuha, amo i-release,” Ouano said.

Last December 13, Osmeña ordered the release of the impounded vehicles to lessen the impact of the suspension of Angkas operation to the city’s commuters whose means of transportation is riding a motorcycle. — GAN (FREEMAN)