Stiffer penalties for breach of parking ordinance
ILOILO City – Regulation Ordinance 2011-458 prohibits anyone from reserving portions of public streets, avenues, sidewalks, alleys, and other public open spaces for his exclusive use as parking space.
It also disallows the putting up of “Reserved Parking for Customers Only” signage on these spaces.
But according to the city government’s Public Safety Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu, many violate this ordinance which aims to ease traffic congestion.
He has a suggestion: increase the penalties of violators.
Currently, the penalties for violating Regulation Ordinance 2011-458 are as follows:
* P1,000 on first offense
* P2,000 on second offense
* P5,000 on third offense or imprisonment of not more than five days, or both fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court
“We will ask Councilor R Leone Gerochi to initiate moves to amend the ordinance. The penalties must be increased to deter violations,” said Conlu.
Gerochi is the chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on transportation.
The Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (Task Force ASIS) under the PSTMO yesterday conducted inspections and found many establishments violating Regulation Ordinance 2011-458.
Task force personnel confiscated over 10 “Reserved Parking for Customers Only” signs.
“Some of the violators claimed they did not know Regulation Ordinance 2011-458. Some may be telling the truth while others may be lying,” said Conlu.
But ignorance is an unacceptable excuse, said Conlu.
The PSTMO has reproduced copies of the ordinance and distributed these to establishments, he stressed.
“Pirmi kita naga-operate. Balik-balik lang. We have warned them. We will be filing charges kon masulit pa gid ang violation,” said Conlu./PN
