During the first regular session of the 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod for the month of August, City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, during his Presiding Officer’s Time, shared the favorable response of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- 7 Regional Office to the city council’s appeal of lowering the vehicular speed limit along national roads within the jurisdiction of the City of Tagbilaran.
It can be recalled that early this year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued memorandum circulars enjoining all Local Government units to classify roads, set speed limits and prohibit tricycles, pedicabs, and motorized pedicabs from traversing national roads. Taking up the task of complying the DILG’s orders, the 14th SP, through the Committee on Peace, Public Order, and Safety and the Committee on Energy, Public Utilities, Franchise and Transportation, immediately conducted series of meetings and consultations with key stakeholders on the need to update the provisions of our existing City Traffic and Transportation Code. The discussions led to the proposal of setting a speed limit not exceeding 40kph on all national roads within the city’s territorial jurisdiction for the safety and security of the pedestrians and commuters.
Through the letter dated March 10, 2020, signed by Peace, Public Order and Safety Committee Chair Eliezer Borja and City Vice Mayor Veloso, the City Council raised their appeal to the DPWH-7 Regional Office to lower the speed limits in our city’s national roads. The letter emphasized that the safety of the commuting public is the SP’s main consideration in their proposal to set the speed limit along C.P.G Avenue, J.A. Clarin Street, V.P. Inting Avenue, B.S. Aquino Avenue and J. Graham Avenue, to not be more than 40 kph.
Under joint DOTr, DPWH and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2018-001, city and municipal governments are allowed to propose speed limits for national roads lower than those provided under Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code when necessary for the safety of the road users.
DPWH Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon stated in his letter that his Office interposes no objection and extends full support to the City Council’s Ordinance for the greater benefit of the constituents.
Prior to this proposal, tricycles were prohibited from operating on national highways utilized by four-wheel vehicles greater than four tons and where normal speed exceeds 40 kph. With this development, tricycles-for-hire will be allowed to ply national roads in the City and will provide more modes of transportation for the Tagbilaranons.
