A fatal crash involving an ambulance and a motorcycle has prompted Cebu City to move toward tighter coordination among traffic enforcers, emergency responders, and barangay officials.
The city government is strengthening coordination among traffic, emergency, and barangay responders following the April 14 crash that killed a student and injured another in Barangay Luz.
Councilor Paul Labra, chair of the City Council’s committee on peace and order, said the incident exposed gaps in enforcement and coordination among agencies tasked with maintaining road safety.
“That incident is an eye opener nga dunay mga opisina nga wala gyud tawon makabuhat pas ilang mga buhaton sama sa mga opisina nga maoy gitahasan sa pag implementar sa balaod trapiko,” he said.
Labra said the council has convened concerned agencies to clarify responsibilities and strengthen enforcement of existing traffic laws.
He added that barangay officials will be mobilized next week to help enforce road safety rules at the community level.
The initiative will be integrated into the city’s “Oplan Pakigsandurot” program, which taps force multipliers such as barangay personnel and volunteers to assist police in maintaining peace and order.
“They should approach this with the idea that all agencies must be involved. We need to work together to address this problem,” Labra said.
He also said the city is looking to strengthen enforcement of traffic ordinances and may provide additional support to the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), which has faced manpower constraints.
Labra said the city is studying the possibility of increasing or rehiring personnel, including job order workers, to improve traffic management and enforcement capacity.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, who heads the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said emergency vehicle protocols are also under review.
Tumulak said drivers of ambulances and fire trucks have been reminded to strictly observe road safety standards, even during emergency response.
“Regardless of how urgent the call is, safety of the driver and occupants must remain the priority,” he said.
The measures follow the fatal collision on the Archbishop Reyes Avenue flyover in Barangay Luz that killed 18-year-old student Braille Nichole Kwek and injured another student.
Initial reports said the victims’ motorcycle collided with an ambulance allegedly traveling against the flow of traffic.
The incident has triggered public concern and calls for stricter enforcement of road discipline, including among emergency responders.
A road safety advocacy group earlier called for a “thorough and transparent” investigation.
Authorities have yet to release complete findings as the investigation continues. (LLP)
Photo by: Jacq Hernandez, PBB Photojournalist
Comments