Davao City: The chair of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (City Council) Committee on Public Order and Safety called for amendments to the Bicycle Ordinance, the Parking Fee Ordinance and the Davao City Transport and Traffic Code in order for these policies to be attuned to the COVID-19 situation and the new normal.
Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta, chair of the City Council Committee on Peace and Public Safety bared that during the public hearing by her committee and the Committee on Transportation and Communication on June 10 and June 15, it was learned that the Bicycle Ordinance and the Davao City Transport and Traffic Code stipulate contradicting provisions.
She cited that the Bicycle Ordinance has different modes of bicycle registration and different rates of registration fees.
Acosta said she and the chair of the Committee on Transportation and Communication Councilor Conrado Baluran agreed to harmonize the two ordinances.
“We also agreed to make some changes in the Paid Parking Ordinance, in order to allow the making of bicycle lanes in the identified areas of the city and to close down the some portion of the San Pedro loop and Roxas Avenue loop on weekends for a proposed shared recreation routes,” she said.
Acosta said that the Committee on Health chaired by Councilor Joselle Villafuerte also proposed that any bicycle plan in the must conform to the programs of the City Health Office and the City Tourism Office.
She said the chairs of the Committee on Health and the Committee on Transportation and Communication will also join in the forthcoming hearings.
Acosta said changes in the ordinances will affect the Traffic Code, the Parking Ordinance and Bicycle Ordinance.
She underscored that the bicycle is a big reprieve to the people as alternative mode of transportation in order to go to work or to do a task outside their residence.
Acosta said the Department of Interior and Local Government has issued memorandum circular 065-2020 urging local governments to establish bicycle lanes.
“Though the city government makes this a priority, by instructing the City Traffic and Transport Management Office to establish bicycle lanes, it is also open to changes in the policies to make in relevant to the situation now,” she said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
