City council supports bill on traffic sign vandalism

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has expressed its support to the Senate Bill penalizing the stealing and vandalizing of government road and traffic signs and devices.

Councilor Rey Gealon, who used to be a former official in the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), has proposed a resolution supporting the national bill.

Gealon noted that based on CCTO’s Central Command, the number of documented vehicular accidents had increased with around 24 vehicular accidents per day this year.

Gealon said, over the years, a number of legislative initiatives have been implemented to address the frequent factors that lead to auto accidents and to protect the citizenry from the harmful impacts of vehicular accidents including that of Senator Revilla, Jr.’s bill.

The bill is expected to “improve the state of the roads and make vehicular travel by giving drivers the right of road traffic information through signage and accident-prevention devices to avoid accidents.”

To make all road traffic information clearly visible, stealing, and vandalizing road signs is a no-no.

“A significant provision of the proposed measure provides that – “It shall be unlawful to steal or vandalize government road and traffic signs, warning devices accessories and other facilities installed by national and local governments for the purpose of cautioning motorists of imminent dangers along the road,” Gealon stressed.

Such policy, Gealon said, is in consonance with his belief that the government should safeguard the safety of the driver on the road by ensuring that the necessary road traffic information is provided and penalize the person who violates the law by stealing government road warning devices and traffic signs. — (FREEMAN)