200 vehicles clamped in 4 hours amid crackdown

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) is making good its earlier pronouncement to punish road violators.

In a span of four hours on Wednesday night, the office clamped at least 200 vehicles, including government-owned vehicles, found illegally parked on city streets.

CCTO operations head Andres Bayarcal said this was part of an intensified effort to implement City Ordinance No. 1664, which penalizes day and overnight illegal parking.

“Kahibaw na gyud na nga dili gyud allowed magparking sa dalan. Kahibaw na sila ana nga (They already know they are not allowed to park on the street. They already know that) they are parking at their own risk,” he said.

Bayarcal confirmed that government-issued vehicles were among those that were clamped, though he did not specify the number.

He said the office is not bent on giving special treatment to anyone to avoid facing issues.

In a separate interview, Mayor Edgardo Labella said it was his instruction to the CCTO to implement the law fairly to everyone.

“That was my instruction. We really have to clear our streets. We will just have to do it. Also, to clear our streets, (there should be) no special treatment,” he said.

At least 50 personnel from CCTO initiated the Wednesday operation from Barangay Sambag I and II to Bulacao Pardo, including R.R. Landon Street, Osmeña Boulevard, Alcantara Street, V. Rama Avenue, and Horseshoe Drive, among others. They were joined by some police officers.

Bayarcal said the group was deployed at midnight yesterday, adding that the entire operation lasted for four hours.

Owners of the clamped vehicles are required to pay P1,500 to the city government to redeem their units. The same penalty is imposed on towed vehicles.

To redeem the clamped vehicles, owners should present the vehicle’s OR/CR (official receipt/certificate of registration) to the CCTO.

Bayarcal also warned motorists that his office will continue conducting random operations, especially against overnight parking along major thoroughfares.

From July 1 to July 31 alone, CCTO conducted several operations that led to the clamping of 335 units during daytime and 80 units found illegally parked overnight.

CCTO also issued citation tickets to 104 trisikad drivers, 195 e-bike drivers, 54 tricycle drivers, and 249 motorcycle drivers for various violations of traffic laws.

For the month of July, the CCTO issued 15,500 citation tickets to violators.

Meanwhile, CCTO’s traffic engineering section has installed 145 new traffic signs, including the replacements for those that have been dilapidated, in an effort to better guide motorists to their destinations. — JMD (FREEMAN)