ILOILO — The Municipality of Pavia’s crackdown on illegal parking immediately netted seven motorcycles on Tuesday as it began enforcing its new wheel-clamping ordinance aimed at clearing major thoroughfares, improving road safety and easing traffic congestion.
As of noon on September 1, personnel of the Pavia Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) had clamped seven motorcycles for violating Municipal Ordinance No. 2026-04, or the Pavia Wheel Clamping Ordinance.
The motorcycles’ owners face a P500 penalty.
The ordinance, which took effect Tuesday, prohibits vehicles from parking, stopping or standing in designated clamping zones across the municipality.
It seeks to ensure the orderly flow of traffic, promote road safety and instill discipline among motorists.
Among the areas covered by the ordinance are the Old Panay Railway access roads from Ungka II to Cabugao Sur and national highways stretching from Ungka II to Cabugao Sur, Jibao-an to the San Miguel boundary, Ungka II C1 to Jibao-an, Gonzaga Street and Evangelista Street.
The prohibition also covers provincial roads along Felix and Angela Gorriceta Avenue, Purok III, Anilao, Pangsanga-an, Tigum and Cabugao Norte, as well as Kabsaka Road and NIA Road, which are barangay roads.
The designated areas are strictly no-parking zones at all times.
Vehicles found violating the ordinance will be clamped for the first 24 hours and towed if they remain in violation thereafter.
Penalties vary according to vehicle classification.
Trisikads, e-bikes, e-trisikads, motorcycles and tricycles face a P500 fine, while cars, vans and small trucks with gross weights of 3.5 to 4.5 tons will be fined P1,000.
Heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction machinery, face the highest penalty of P2,500.
“Ginapangabay ang tanan nga motorista kag vehicle owners nga magsunod sa mga probisyon sang ordinansa, ilabi na sa husto nga pagparada agud malikawan ang pag-clamp sang salakyan kag iban pa nga kaupod nga penalidad. Bulig kag kooperasyon sang tanan ginapangayo agud mapabilin nga hapsay, luwas, kag organisado ang trapiko kag mga dalan sa Banwa sang Pavia. Magsunod kita sa ordinansa,” the Pavia PSTMO said.
Before enforcement began, the PSTMO conducted information drives around Pavia’s barangays to inform residents and motorists about the new ordinance.
The office, under the supervision of PSTMO head Dante C. Dumaguing, also conducted a wheel-clamping drill to ensure personnel were properly trained in the safe and orderly implementation of the policy.
Vice Mayor Edsel Gerochi said the municipal government had undertaken an extensive information campaign before enforcing the ordinance, including the distribution of leaflets, public announcements and installation of signs in designated clamping zones.
Barangay captains also helped disseminate information by posting notices about the ordinance and its September 1 implementation on their respective barangay Facebook pages./PN
