Higher jaywalking fine opposed as ‘anti-poor’
A Cebu Council proposal to increase anti-jaywalking fines up to P1,000 is “anti-poor” and would not solve congestion traffic congestion, stakeholders said in a public hearing yesterday.
Rafael Yap, head of the City Traffic Operations Management (Citom), said the measure would only draw “adverse” reactions from the poor.
“Most pedestrians are the poor who belong to classes C, D, E,” and cannot afford the new fines, said Brenette Abrenica, a teacher from the University of San Carlos.
Sonny, a USC political science student, said the proposal was “excessive” for students like him who barely have enough for their baon.
Councilor Ritchie Osmeña, head of the council’s traffic committee, proposed the increased fines to update a 10-year-old jaywalking ordinance.
If approved, the proposal would raise jaywalking fees from a range of P50 to P500 on one hand, to a range of P200 to P1,000 on the other.
Article continues after this advertisementOsmeña said the increase would discipline pedestrians and bring order to city streets.
Article continues after this advertisement“Are you opposing because the mayor is (also) opposed to the proposed increase in fines?” Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young asked the Citom chief.
Most jaywalkers are students, low-wage earners and the marginalized who can’t afford to pay higher fines, Yap replied.
“These are people who cannot afford to pay their fare and use walking as a mode of transport,” he told the council.
A minimum wage earner who gets P285 per day does not normally carry P200 in his wallet, he said.
The city should instead ensure that pedestrian lanes are painted and that signs to guide them are in place, Yap said.
The anti-jaywalking ordinance applies to all city streets, but Citom implements “selective enforcement” in downtown streets especially because of the lack of zebra crossings and signs in other areas, he said.
Jaywalkers are apprehended on Leon Kilat Street near E-mall, along N. Bacalso Street and on Colon Street near Metro Gaisano.
Citom’s 2012 budget should include outlays for the installation of signs and painting of road marks, Yap said.
“By then we could already start looking at proper enforcement.”
Abrenica, the university professor, said the proposed P200 minimum fine could already buy the violator five kilos of rice.
She noted there was not study to support the proposal to hike fines up to P1,000.
Since Cebu City draws people from different places, there is a need to profile pedestrians, what their violations are and why they commit these, Abrenica said.
But while the anti-jaywalking ordinance has been in effect for 10 years, Citom still lacks data on the common violators.
“We need a factual basis to increase fines,” said Abrenica.
Abrenica said she was willing to help the city, when Councilor Margot Osmena asked if USC was willing to conduct a study.
Sonny, the student, said more Citom enforcers should be seen on the street instead of imposing large fines. He asked the council to review which streets should be strictly monitored for jaywalkers.
Councilor Jose Daluz III said it may be better to implement the anti-jaywalking ordinance only on congested streets.
With even Citom objecting to the proposal, Councilor Edgar Labella , said this would be a setback to any amendment of the ordinance.
He said public sentiment is the council’s main consideration.Labella said the new fines are too high but amending ordinances is a prerogative of the City Council.
Transport group Atomic head Rudy Laconsa signified his interest to speak but was not allowed to after Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young suspended the hearing.
