By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The city government of Sagay in Negros Occidental and the city police intensified their campaign on road safety with the destruction of more than 1,000 illegal “open pipe” motorcycle mufflers (tambutso) last Monday.
The ceremonial destruction of the 1,184 confiscated mufflers led by Mayor Alfredo Marañon III, Vice Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr., and Police Major Antonio Benitez, city police chief, was held at the Sagay City Government Center.
The series of confiscations are in line with the continued implementation of City Ordinance No. 2015-002 or “An Ordinance Regulating the Operation of Motor Vehicles with Modified Mufflers within the City of Sagay and Prescribing Penalties Thereof” and the Enhanced Managing Police Operation Program under the Philippine National Police (PNP) Patrol Plan 2030.
These mufflers were confiscated in a series of operations at the national highway and major roads in the area since 2017.
The confiscated mufflers came from motorists coming from cities of Bacolod, Escalante, Cadiz, and Sagay, and Toboso town.
Marañon said that illegal “open pipe” mufflers contribute to the noise pollution in the community, and there is a need to minimize it to maintain road safety and order.
Based on the ordinance, violators will be sanctioned to pay a fine of P500 to P5,000, and their motorcycles will be confiscated.
He also urged the Sagaynons to report to the authorities motorists who keep on violating the law.
For his part, Benitez said that this program is also in line to maintain peace and order in the city, as he urged all the motorists to always follow traffic rules for everybody’s safety.
Meanwhile, the city government also distributed new sets of uniform and duty supplies to the traffic enforcers to honor their efforts in ensuring order along the city’s thoroughfares and highways.
Benitez hopes that it will motivate them to do more in doing their duties.
