The Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Peace and Public Safety is now prioritizing an ordinance mandating clamping zones in Davao City to alleviate traffic jams caused by vehicles illegally parked.
Councilor Atty. Luna Acosta, chair of the SP’s Committee on Peace and Public Safety, said during Tuesday’s Pulong Pulong sa Konseho media forum that they saw the need to impose clamping zones after it was found out that heavy traffic jams are caused by illegal street parking in Davao City’s thoroughfares.
“We will designate clamping areas in the downtown and other streets in Davao City kung saan bawal mag Park and if you park there, your vehicle will be clamped. Lalagyan talaga para hindi ka makaalis, babayaran mo muna bago ka makaalis (We will designate clamping areas in the downtown area and other streets in Davao City where it is illegal to park. If you park there, your vehicle will be clamped and you cannot leave without payment),” she said.
Acosta said that these areas are already identified and are mostly the main thoroughfares of Davao City.
“We have several identified areas, ang specific streets. Hindi ko lang maisa-isa but mostly they are in the same downtown area and major thoroughfares in Davao City. Saan usually ang traffic, doon usually din bawal ang parking. For example Quimpo, Boulevard, R. Castillo, the major streets, kung saan mataas ang traffic bawal magparking… designated pay parking zones hindi na kasali (We have several identified specific streets. I cannot name them one by one but mostly, they are in the same downtown area and major thoroughfares in Davao City where the traffic is heavy. Usually these are the areas where parking is not allowed, for example Quimpo Boulevard, R. Castillo. These are areas where parking is also not allowed, except if there are pay parking zones),” she said.
The proposed penalty is from Php1,000 to Php3,000 , depending on the size of the vehicle.
She said that the Ordinance will possibly include an amendment to the Davao City Traffic Code because it will empower the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) to clamp vehicles.
She said that the committee wants to push for the passage of the ordinance before the year ends and is already in the process of procuring the clamps. CIO
