Law enforcers conducted a checkpoint near the Dumaguete-Sibulan boundary Nov. 12 to inspect and ensure that vans for hire have registration and/or necessary permits.
City Administrator Lilani Ramon supervised the checkpoint conducted by personnel of the Traffic Management Office (TMO), Highway Patrol Group, Special Enforcement Unit, Dumaguete City Police Station, and the City Treasurer’s Office.
National and local ordinances require that all vans for hire must secure permits and pay the necessary fees or fines so that they can legally operate to ensure the safety of their passengers and fellow motorists.
Meanwhile, 47 personnel of the Discipline Zone have been placed under the operational control of the TMO to focus on the apprehension of violators, and for pedestrian control.
Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo approved the reorganization of the Discipline Zone Program to provide additional manpower to manage traffic congestion in intersections due to the newly-opened diversion and city roads, and the use of pedestrian lanes, the city said.
Assistant city administrator and CHRO head, Dr. Dinno Depositario, said that concerned officials, including Councilor Rey Lyndon Lawas, DILG provincial director Farah Diba Gentuyam, TMO officer-in-charge Danilo Atillo, and Discipline Zone OIC Elmer Melon deliberated and concurred with the decision of Remollo.
With the additional manpower, the TMO will intensify the apprehension of offenders of illegal parking, illegal vending, smoking in public, panhandling, littering, jaywalking, and mendicancy, among other violations of applicable local ordinances or national laws.
Meanwhile, some of the personnel assigned to the Discipline Zone Project were also transferred to the Special Enforcement Unit, five; BPSO, three; CDRRMO, nine; and four to the CEED Market Task Force.
The Discipline Zone Project was launched in 2018 to enforce traffic laws and ordinances in identified discipline zone areas along the national highway, from Barangay Buñao in the north to Robinsons Place down south, the city said. ||
