Counterflow measure City impounds 7,000 vehicles

CEBU, Philippines —  A year after implementing the anti-counterflow measure, the Cebu City Transportation Office has impounded over 7,000 light vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, and buses in a warehouse at the South Road Properties (SRP).

CCTO Head Francisco Ouano said he can call the implementation of the measure a success because the number of violators has been decreasing as the months moved on.

“So far, so good.   Sa first months of implementation, daghan og nadakpan kay daghan nagpabadlong.  Karon, nakita nato nga nikunhod na gyud. For the whole year, 7,000 to 8,000 were impounded,” he told The FREEMAN.

Ouano said the motorists have learned their lessons the hard way.

On February 2, 2018, Mayor Tomas Osmeña signed and issued Executive Order No. 34 or the order declaring reckless driving pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 4136 or otherwise known as Traffic Code of the Philippines, City Ordinance 801 and other existing traffic rules and regulations nuisance per se, providing sanctions thereof and for other purposes.

Under Section 3 of the EO, the mayor imposed sanctions and penalties against violators that include removing off the roads all motor vehicles used in the commission of an offense for at least 30 days as “corrective measure.”

As of now, Ouano said there are only less than a hundred vehicles that are impounded at the warehouse.

Most of the impounded units are four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles.

“Usa sa among mga challenges nga dili gyud ka-adjust ang kadaghanan. HInoon, naglabi gyud sa mga violators ang dili taga Cebu. Ang uban mosibat, ang uban makiglalis, maglagot, masuko,” he said.

Ouano said he already informed enforcers to exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with the violators to avoid confrontation on the road.

While he understands that losing their vehicles for 30 days will do no good, he said motorists should learn to abide by the city’s traffic rules.

Ouano said Osmeña had told him that the main objective of the measure is to instill discipline and road safety rules for the motorists, adding that the measure also benefited pedestrians.

In its initial assessment, the CCTO noted a decrease number of accidents since the anti-counterflow measure was implemented.

However, he said he has yet to collate the data and will present it next week.

In the EO, Osmeña said the declaration of reckless driving or driving left or counter-flow as a nuisance is needed for the city to be allowed to remove off the road all the vehicles used in the commission of an offense.

Under Article 694 New Civil Code of the Philippines, it enumerates or defines what constitute nuisance per se: “any act, omission, establishment, business, condition or property or anything else which: (1) injures or endangers the health or safety of others; or (2) annoys or offends the senses; or (3) shocks, defies or disregards decency or morality; or (4) obstructs or interferes with the free passage of any public highway or street, or any body of water; or (5) hinders or impairs the use of property.” – GAN, (FREEMAN)