AMENDED TRAFFIC ORDINANCE

A SHOWDOWN looms this early part of the year between the executive and legislative branches of the Dagupan City government when Mayor Belen Fernandez partially vetoed the ordinance passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) late last year that amended a traffic ordinance enacted way back in 2002.

Vetoed was Section 4. Amendment to Article V, Section 4 (PUBs/mini buses) 13 of Article V is amended as follows: “13. For PUBs, particularly Solid North, Five Star, Victory Liner, shall pass through Caranglaan, Mayombo, enter Villa Costa Road towards their respective terminals. In going out of their terminals (they) shall pass through Perez Boulevard towards their respective destinations.”

The veto message of the mayor read on Wednesday (January 4) during the first regular session of the year of the SP states: “the undersigned respectfully approves Ordinance 2076-2016 x x x x partially vetoing however the following provision on the ground that the same is prejudicial to public welfare”.

Fernandez said allowing big buses to exit along Perez Boulevard, one of the busiest roads in the city, will immensely aggravate the already worsening traffic situation in Dagupan.

She pointed out that the exit points of the bus terminals are located near the intersection of Mayombo District, M.H. del Pilar and Perez Boulevard.

The mayor said she deems the provision in the amendment to the previous ordinance “as prejudicial to public welfare.”

The mayor’s partial veto was included in the agenda of the first regular session of the SP last Wednesday, January 4, as part of the communications received by the SP.

Vice Mayor Brian Lim, SP presiding officer, referred the veto to the committee of the whole.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, a close ally of mayor, refused to comment on the partial veto of the city executive, while Councilor Alvin Coquia, acting majority floor leader and principal author of Ordinance No. 2076-2016, said he respects the mayor’s move and the city council will have to assess their response.

Tamayo said a 3/4 vote of all the members of the SP will be needed to override the mayor’s partial veto. The SP will have within 15 days after the receipt of the partial veto message to override the same.

“We will study the mayor’s partial veto and our own ordinance will come out with our decision on the matter,” said Coquia.

He said, the reason why Perez Boulevard was acceptable as exit point of buses was because Villa Costa Road is too narrow for both entry and exit of buses and the decision was reached when there was still no traffic light installed at the intersection of Perez Boulevard, Mayombo and M.H. del Pilar St. (Leonardo Micua)

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