KALIBO, Aklan – Sangguniang Bayan member Ralf Tolosa urged the Malay Municipal Transportation Office (MTRO) to strictly enforce traffic code against erring drivers in the world-famous Boracay Island.
“Ang mga drivers sa Boracay ay mostly dayo, hindi naman taga Malay. Kailangan magtulong-tulong tayo para maayos natin ang serbisyo, ang pakikitungo ng mga drivers sa mga residente at turista. Nadadamay ang ilang drivers dahil sa pag-uugali ng iba,” said Tolosa.
He also stressed that the municipal ordinance provides stiff penalties in the operation of motorized and electric tricycles.
MTRO senior transportation regulation Officer Cesar Oczon said the common violations are refusal to convey or carry passengers to their designated destinations, discrimination, overloading, excessive charges, and misconduct or arrogance.
These offenses have fines of P500 only under Municipal Ordinance No. 342 series of 2015 and the amended Municipal Ordinance No. 383 series of 2018 or the Municipal Traffic Code.
Fifty-nine erring drivers were also suspended for 15 days by Boracay Land Transport Multi-purpose Cooperative for their first offenses from November 2018 to June 2019.
MTRO is created by the municipal ordinance under the direct supervision and control of Malay town mayor. It is tasked to enforce the traffic laws and implement traffic engineering plans and programs in Malay, Aklan.
“Kailangan may ngipin ang implementasyon ng ordinansa, para rin ito sa ikabubuti ng Boracay at Malay,” Tolosa stressed.
He added: “Isa sa mga problema natin ang mga tricycle owners. Pag may lisensya ang driver, hindi nila halos ini-orient ang kanilang mga drivers.”
Among the amendments considered by the committees on transportation and laws were to increase the penalties for common violations from P500 for first offense to P2,500 and two-weeks suspension, impounding area for apprehended vehicles and random drug testing for drivers every six months. (With a report from Akean Forum/PN)
