156 city vehicles unregistered?

CEBU, Philippines — At least 156 vehicles of Cebu City government have expired registration and are at risk of being impounded by the Land Transportation Office-7 if caught on the road.

LTO-7 Director Victor Caindec issued the warning yesterday amid the brewing conflict between him and Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Caindec said that based on records, there are 240 vehicles registered under the city government but 156 have expired and were not renewed.

"Og nakit-an namo ilang sakyanan nga expired, among dakpon," Caindec said.

The city government, however, denied Caindec’s claim. Department of General Services head Ronald Malacora said that all 800 vehicles, including 300 motorcycles, owned by the city are registered.

“I don’t think that’s true because all our vehicles are registered. If there are vehicles that are not registered, it might be out of service or for storage or for repair, something like that,” he told reporters.

Malacora said he knows the rule that vehicles without registration should not be allowed to ply the streets.

Malacora said the city started processing its registration of the vehicles in Mindanao after the city was reportedly rejected by the LTO-7.

“Because they don’t accept. I don’t know. So, we do it in Mindanao. LTO-7 does not accept. I don’t know the policy. It’s been going on for 2012 pa na siya. Just like our buses, before registered sa Cebu City.  Years after, we register it in Mindanao coz if we don’t have them registered, dili nato magamit,” he said.

Malacora said his office is very strict in having the city-owned vehicles to be registered.

On the other hand, Osmeña threatened to file charges against LTO-7 officials for their alleged failure to release the registration of vehicles and motorcycles on time.

Osmeña said the LTO’s “incompetence” should not be a cause for the people to suffer.

“We’ll, let me put it this way. You’re penalizing the driver for not releasing the registration. We’re preparing a charge against LTO on that. This is ridiculous. This is the only case I know when the government is making the people suffer because they fail to do their job,” the mayor said.

Caindec said Osmeña is dragging the LTO into politics. He asked the mayor to leave them alone and attend to the problems of the city instead.

“Leave politics out of my office, unaha ng baha, traffic ug basura ayaw diri sa among opisina pag-apil-apil,” said Caindec.

Caindec also warned Osmeña that the penalty in his anti-counterflow measure is illegal because only the LTO has the authority to impound vehicles.

Despite the warning, Osmeña said he will continue to implement the measure to instill road discipline.

The mayor said the anti-counterflowing policy is for the general welfare of the public.

“I will do whatever is necessary to make life better for everyone because tomorrow must be better than today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Caindec has requested all local government units in Central Visayas to stop the illegal installation of siren, bell, horn, whistle or other similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sound, including dome lights, blinkers, and other similar signaling devices.

Caindec said that this matter was brought to their attention that many motor vehicles owned by the LGUs have installed these devices which are in violation of existing laws.

All LGUs were directed to submit the list of motor vehicles with such devices for LTO's inspection, approval and proper tagging in LTO system within 15 days from receipt. (FREEMAN)