Upon instruction of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, traffic czar Ariel Inton on Sunday said all truck ban exemptions issued by previous administrations were all revoked.
Inton, the city’s Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management, has issued stricter anti-traffic policies concerning truck ban exemptions and rampant usage of its enforcers and local government unit-owned vehicles as funeral escorts.
The latest policies came out as part of the continuing compliance of the city government to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive and the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121 to clear all public roads within 60 days.
Inton said “many of the trucks listed for exemptions are actually used for private constructions rather than government projects,” instead of serving their purpose to ease the gridlock on major roads and even the Mabuhay lanes.
“It’s funny how private construction firms lie under their nose and use government projects as justifications for their exemptions especially during traffic rush hours,” he said.
Inton also banned all traffic enforcers belonging to the Department of Public Order and Safety to be deployed or allowed to extend escort assistance during funeral march.
He said the government also banned its vehicles as funeral escorts, adding that he would not allow any traffic aide to moonlight during working hours.
“I am giving a strong warning to those QC traffic enforcers who still want to continue in escorting funeral marches. Go ahead, only if you promise to be buried with him,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Mayor Belmonte has created a special team to quickly respond to complaints coursed via the Office of the President’s hotline 8888.
She issued Executive Order No. 24 to form the 8888 Action Team to coordinate action within 48 hours upon receipt of the complaints.
The action team shall be part of the citizen’s complaint center under the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and shall ensure that all reported concerns are addressed properly and sent to the proper agency for appropriate actions, she said.
The city mayor appointed City Administrator Michael Victor Alimurung or his authorized representative as the focal person of the action team.
Carlos Versonilla, the City Radio Communications Service chief, shall serve as the alternate.
Last year, the Office of the President recognized the Quezon City government for its quick actions to complaints raised through hotline 8888.