NEWS BRIEFS
CITOM NETS P5M REVENUE IN FEES
ABOUT P5 million in fees was collected by the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) last month, slightly lower than the P5.9 million collected from the same month last year.
Of that number, the bulk of the fees collected came from pay parking fees at P3.5 million while the smallest came from route plate fees which reached only P1,000.
The same Citom report showed that the number of jaywalkers went up to 2,199 or higher than the 1,075 violators apprehended last January.
Citom collected P109,950 fines from jaywalkers, up from P53,750 also in January.
The city’s anti-jaywalking ordinance charges P50 for every violator.
Cebu City Councilor Richard Osmeña proposed a P3,000 fine for jaywalkers but this was opposed by Citom executive director Rafael Yap.
Administrative penalties reached P652,545 while smoke belching collections reached P8,000.
Last month’s collection is also lower than April’s fines amounting to P5,301,901. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita
TALISAY CITY CRACKS DOWN ON GHOST EMPLOYEES
TALISAY City Mayor-elect Johnny V. de los Reyes said he would sack ghost employees who each receive P20,000 to P30,000 in monthly salaries from the city.
“In my administration, we won’t tolerate ghost employees so we can set a good example to others),” he said.
De los Reyes said he will also upgrade the Talisay City District Hospital so it can handle more cases.
He said he and his partymates in the Liberal Party (LP) chapter will hold their inauguration this June 30 and will invite tricycle drivers and market vendors to attend the event.
He said they will hold a “budol fight” in the old market in barangay Tabunok. Vice-Mayor-elect Romeo Villarante said the site would be appropriate for the start of the new administration. Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc
FLOOD EXIT ROUTES FOR MANDAUE
OFFICIALS of Mandaue City Hall’s Planning and Development Office will meet with personnel of the Traffic Enforcement Agency in Mandaue (TEAM) to plan alternate routes for public utility vehicles and private motorists in case of floods.
Yesterday, vehicles passing through the national highway in MC Briones Street experienced a two-hour traffic congestion following heavy rains.
CPDO chief Florentino Nimor said he will also meet with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for assessments on the Mandaue City’s drainage systems.
Nimor said some parts of the city were still flooded after two hours of rain last Wednesday.
He said their office recommended to build “cross drainage” systems in flood-prone areas.
Nimor said this will allow the water from the city’s west side to flow across the street and exit towards the Mactan channel.
He said their proposal was made during the Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting months ago.
The cross drainage must be built along major road intersection to allow rainwater to flow across the street. City Administrator James Abadia said vacuum trucks were used to clean canals. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos
