Councilor Rolando Amurao, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, remains firm on his stand not to lower the penalty for those fund guilty of violating the Traffic Management Code of Puerto Princesa City, which is currently pegged at P3,000.
Amurao said that he is willing to discuss any proposed amendment to Ordinance No. 909 like the proposal of Coun. Nesario Awat to review it particularly increase in penalties for traffic violations but he is not inclined to lower it from P3,000.
“I’m very much willing to discuss this matter with the Committee on Transportation. But as early as now, I would like to say that ‘yong tatlong libo nga, ang dami pa ring nagvi-violate. ‘Pag binabaan natin ito, balik sa dating ugali ‘yong ating mga drivers. Ang kahilingan po natin dito ay ituloy na lang ito para madisiplina natin ‘yong ating mga drivers. This is not particularly for the tricycle drivers alone, kahit yang private vehicles natin, yung mga motorist natin,” he said during the 141st session of the City Council on Monday, May 20.
Amurao also stated that their request to DILG for the exemption on the banning of tricycles on national roads may be denied due the lack of discipline of the Puerto Princesa motorists.
“But this is abuse. Hindi nila sinusunod. That’s why I’m afraid na ma-deny yung ating request for exemption. So the result of this, tatanggalin talaga sila sa ating national highway,” referring to the City Ordinance No. 838 that allows tricycles on the outer lane of the national highway.
“Pag sumunod sila sa batas, kahit piso na lang ang penalty, payag po ako eh. Basta’t sumunod sila,” he added.
On the other hand, the City Council decided that the review requested by Coun. Awat will be discussed by the next batch of newly elected councilors.