THE Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) began its campaign Friday, December 16, to clear roads in Cagayan de Oro City of obstructions like illegal structures and cargo trucks and other vehicles illegally parked especially along the National Highway.
"Oplan Hapsay Highway" from village of Gusa to Bugo, this city, was jointly conducted by the RTA, Land Transportation Office (LTO, the traffic unit of Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), Regional Highway Patrol Group, and the Regional Public Safety Battalion.
Oscar Salcedo, LTO regional director for Northern Mindanao, said the joint operation will be conducted regularly beginning this holiday season and will be done at least twice a month.
Salcedo said the first day of the implementation yielded 24 apprehensions for various violations which were mostly illegal parking along the highway.
LTO-Northern Mindanao apprehending team issued Temporary Operator's Permits (TOP) for trailer trucks and other vehicles illegally parked along the highway.
The team also flagged down other vehicles passing by to check documents.
"TOP ang i-issue kung LTO makadakop, citation ticket kung RTA, usa ra ka citation depende kinsa makadakop," the LTO official said.
"Apil mga motorized nga mga sakyanan ug uban pa bawal atong dakpon. Kana sila manago na pag naay operation unya mobalik ra dayon pag walay LTO," Salcedo added.
He said the LTO penalty for illegal parking is P1,000 while the RTA imposes a P1,500 fine for the same violation.
"Hangyo nato sa katawhan nga mo-cooperate para malimpyo ang atong highway. Kabalo naman ta sa mga bawal dili na lang buhaton," Salcedo said.
Abalacio Baloro, a trailer truck driver owned by Barangay 33 chairman Conrad Lim, said he didn't expect RTA personnel will tow the body of the truck, which he claimed, was parked at the shoulder of the road.
"Nagtuo ko nga dili na apilon kay naa man sa shoulder sa dalan. Naka-park diri kay gi-repair, unya gi-explain nako nga coming na ang ulo ani para kami na lang magkuha pero dili sila mosugot, ila gayud guyoron. Wala koy mahimo kay ila mang balaod," Baloro said.
Salcedo said the team will soon start the "Oplan Hapsay Highway" at the western part of the city.
"Mahuman ning sa Gusa to Bugo sa western part na sad kaning highway sa city," he said.
The regional office of the land transport also noted passengers stranded due to the absence of tricycle and "Bajaj" operators passing along the highway.
The LTO official said the drivers and operators of these public utility vehicles operating outside or without franchises might have stayed away from the highway after they were warned of the joint operations.
