DAVAO CITY, Dec 16 (PIA) A local legislator cited the need to convert the executive order setting the speed of all vehicles within the city limits to an ordinance to make the policy permanent.
City Councilor Leonardo Avila III, chair of the City Council Committee on Transportation said the Executive Order No. 39 of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte runs after reckless driving and not solely on the violation of the speed limit.
He said though the order can be enforced immediately, it still needs legislative action to make the policy permanent with the corresponding ordinance as its basis.
“We need to make the policy permanent just like the other novel legislations like the Smoking and Firecracker Bans being imposed in the city,” Avila said.
He said the executive order needs one month before a thorough evaluation is done to determine its impact on the local economy.
He said the executive order on the speed limit draw mixed reactions from the motorists.
“Many motorist notice the slow pace of traffic within the city. There are some who demand for more speed limit signs especially on the corresponding speed limit per route,” Avila said.
He said the motorists need information on the corresponding speed limit per road stretch which must be implemented immediately.
Avila underscored the need for signage every 500 meters of the city roads given that it is a highway requirement even internationally.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed in October 29, Executive Order No. 39 Series of 2013 tempering the speed limit within the city limits as he invoked the interest of public safety and order.
Under the new executive order, all motorists must observe maximum allowable speed at 60 kilometers per hour only from Sirawan to Ulas Crossing, Lasang to Panacan, Calinan to Ulas Crossing, Carlos P. Garcia Highway-Macarthur Highway to Panacan; 40 kilometers per hour only from Ulas to the bridges of Generoso and Bolton, Panacan Crossing to J.P. Laurel Avenue-Alcantara Junction, Ma-a Road from the Diversion Highway to the MacArthur Highway; and 30 kilometers per hour from J.P. Laurel Avenue-Alcantara, Buhangin Crossing Milan, C.P. Garcia Highway-Bacaca and C.P. Garcia Highway -Angliongto Street to the bridges of Bolton and Generoso.
He said the existing traffic laws are no longer responsive to the current traffic situation in the city due to many factors as a result of urbanization.
Duterte stressed that Local Government Code of the Philippines grants local government units the power to regulate traffic on all streets and bridges within their territorial boundaries and to enact measures that will enhance the public health, safety, convenience, maintain peace and order and promote the general prosperity of its residents.
He said Executive Order No. 39 is still based on the precept of Section 35 of the Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of 1964 which states that a person driving a motor vehicle on the highway shall drive at a careful and prudent speed not greater nor less than, is reasonable and proper, having due regard for the traffic, width of the highway under the existing condition; and no person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway at such as speed that will endanger the life, limb and property of any person, nor at a speed greater than will permit him to bring the vehicle to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
Duterte ordered the Traffic Management Center, Traffic Group of the Davao City Police Office, Land Transportation Office 11 and the Highway Patrol Group assigned in the city as lead implementing agencies backed up by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 and the Department of Public Works and Highways-Davao City. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
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