Speed limit, amended liquor ban, among Duterte administration’s achievements
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/05 January) — The city government has released an infographic of the city government’s achievements during the first six months of returning mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s term .
The infographic, available at the City Government’s official Facebook page, cites the implementation of an amended liquor ban, speed limits, literacy and installation of CCTVs (closed circuit television) in malls, as among the achievements
Duterte, a lawyer and former prosecutor, served as OIC vice mayor from 1986 to 1988, was elected mayor from 1988 to 2010, with one term (1998 to 2001) as 1st district representative. When his second nine-year term ended in 2010, he ran for and won as vice mayor, while his daughter Sara, was mayor. In 2013, Duterte ran for mayor unopposed with his son, Paolo as running mate, also running unopposed.
Liquor ban
Establishments in the city can no longer sell liquor from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. due to the amended liquor ban.
The City Council amended Ordinance 1627 which the City Council passed in 1994. The 1994 ordinance banned the sale from 2 a.m.
The amended ordinance bans the serving, and consumption of liquor and alcoholic beverages during these hours and punishes violators with fines of up to P5,000 or a year’s imprisonment.
The establishment’s business permit also faces revocation, according to the ordinance.
CCTVs
Executive order 24 ordered all shopping malls and business establishments with a capital of P3 million and above to install, operate and maintain high-end and high-definition closed circuit television cameras in their entry and exit points.
The CCTVs were mandated to be at eye level, according to the EO.[]
The EO came in the wake of twin bombings that occurred in two cinemas in the city on September 16, 2013. There was no casualty in the blasts, except for five ear injuries reported at one of the blast sites.
A few days after the bombing, Duterte, along with then-City Police Director Ronald Dela Rosa revealed to the public CCTV footage of two suspects.
One suspect was found buying tickets at both SM City Davao and Gaisano Mall cinemas almost an hour apart.[]
Another suspect was seen in another CCTV footage buying an MSM-HK brand 9V batteries at the KSM Kim Sheng RTW and Fashion Accessories.
Dela Rosa said the mall was the only distributor of the battery, which was seen in both blast sites, in the city.
The suspects have yet to be apprehended.
Speed limits
EO 39 set the speed limits of all vehicles plying the city’s roads and highways to 30 kph, 40 kph, and 60 kph, with the lowest speeds set within the city’s downtown streets and the highest speeds on roads leading towards neighboring cities.
Duterte said he was merely implementing Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which was signed into law on June 20, 1964.
A number of taxi drivers have complained their incomes are down by about 300 pesos because of the speed limits.
But Councilor Leo Avila said there has yet to be a formal complaint filed against the measure.
Duterte, said the speed limits would stay even if there are complaints from several sectors, citing RA 4136.
Aid for Visayas
The infographic also showed the city’s help, in the form of medical, rescue, and financial aid, to Tacloban City after super typhoon Yolanda hit the region on November 8.
The city handed out P7 million to the Yolanda-affected areas.
Duterte, who was among the first to send a composite team composed of doctors, rescue personnel, and members of the city’s Task Force Davao, ordered the security team guarding the aid convoy to shoot looters on the foot if they attempt to hurt or impede the caravan the city sent to Tacloban.
Duterte himself flew to the typhoon-struck areas three days after the typhoon.
Earlier, the city also gave financial aid amounting to P18.5 million for Bohol and Cebu after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the region on October 15.
Emergency respons
The city also augmented its rescue vehicles during the period, acquiring 10 additional ambulances for the the city’s Central 911 response system.
The city also added 42 more mobile patrol vehicles and motorcycles for the Davao City Police, the infographic said.[]
The city also won the National Literacy Hall of Fame Award for being a three-time first-placer in the Outstanding Local Government Unit, Highly Urbanized City category. (MindaNews)
