DUMAGUETE CITY – The so-called “Discipline Zone” for the enforcement of traffic laws, rules and regulations in Dumaguete City, is already in full swing following a test run the past seven days.
On Thursday, a motorcade signaled the start of its implementation, with officials of the city government, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), the city’s Special Enforcement Unit, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) city office, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), among others, in attendance.
Dumaguete City police chief, Supt. Jonathan Pineda, announced Thursday that the Discipline Zone, which covers the stretch of the national highway from Barangay Buñao in the north to the south national road fronting Robinsons Place shopping mall, will be cleared of vehicles that are illegally parked.
There will be at least sectors with mobile composite teams that will ensure that the public will cooperate with authorities in terms of observing traffic laws, rules, and regulations, he said.
Starting Friday, violators will already be penalized and shall be issued either citation tickets from the city or Temporary Operators’ Permit (TOP) by the LTO or the HPG, whose personnel are LTO-deputized agents, Pineda said.
He assured that there will be no vacuum left in regular police operations as there are other agencies/offices that are taking part in the Discipline Zone implementation.
Violators on Thursday were given a stern warning as part of the information campaign but on Friday, there will be no more considerations given, the police chief said.
If the project succeeds within the next three months or so, then the authorities will fan out to other areas in the city, he added. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
