Girl councilor recommends sanction v. erring PUJ passengers

Friday, September 26, 2008

AFTER giving penalties for erring public utility drivers, here comes a new sanction against erring passengers boarding or disembarking not within the designated loading and unloading areas.

City girl councilor Kimberly Demegillo, of UP High School Iloilo, proposed a resolution for possible adoption of the City Council here, by “recommending to the City Council to penalize passengers and would-be passengers who board or disembark a public utility jeepney not within the designated loading and unloading area.”



The proponent said it is imperative to punish not only erring drivers but the commuters as well. The preventive and punitive measure can instill discipline on commuters and save the drivers from paying fines which are not totally of their own making.

Demegillo is one of the 43 high school students who were given the reigns of the executive and legislative branches of the City Government on September 22-26, 2008 after passing the examinations given by the Rotary Club of Iloilo to become a city official during the celebration of Boys and Girls Week.

Guided by City Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo who is also the council’s majority floorleader, Demegillo said traffic enforcement or especially the Traffic Management and Engineering Unit (TMEU) should provide traffic signs on these areas to guide the passengers.

Demegillo said there is an urgent need to discipline the riding public while some passengers disembark or board PUJs in areas not within the prescribed loading or unloading area.

This nefarious practice occurs with or without the knowledge or implied consent of the driver that causes traffic jams or obstruction along the city streets and accidents causing injuries or even death to the commuters.

The penalties cover any person caught boarding or disembarking a PUJ not within the loading or unloading area shall suffer a fine of P300 for the first offense; P500 for the second offense; and one week imprisonment for the third offense plus a fine of P1,000. (Lydia C. Pendon)