San Juan City goes slow on ‘zebra lane’ law

Wanting to prevent a repeat of the confusion sowed by a new ordinance banning colorum buses in Manila, the author of a newly passed law sanctioning motorists who don’t step on the brakes when pedestrians use the zebra lanes in San Juan City has called for a grace period.

Councilor Angelo Agcaoili said those who violate Ordinance No. 1-2013, which was passed in April, will not yet be given tickets or sanctions.

Melchor M. Robles, head of Task Force Disiplina in charge of implementing the ordinance, said that because of the grace period, more than 200 violators were merely advised about their offenses and released.

Most of the violators, he said, were drivers of jeepneys and motorcycles from other cities.

“We’re waiting for his (Agcaoili) go-signal for the full implementation,” Robles added.

According to Agcaoili, the grace period would last until all signages detailing the provisions of the ordinance and corresponding penalties have been posted in all places close to pedestrian lanes in the city.

He said the implementation would hopefully take place in October.

“It’s a drastic measure, something Filipinos are not used to, so we really need information dissemination,” he said.

According to him, while all the residents of San Juan had already been informed about the existence of the ordinance, his concern was motorists who do not live in the city.

He said the signs would ensure that everyone, including outsiders, was aware of the existence of the law.

“That way, no one can make an excuse that they didn’t know there was such a law in the city,” he said.