Warning to PUV drivers: Cebu City to strictly enforce loading, unloading regulations

Local

CEBU City is moving to impose tougher discipline on its roads.

This, after the City Council approved a resolution mandating the strict enforcement of loading and unloading regulations for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) amid worsening congestion and safety concerns.

The measure, authored by Councilor Michella Abella-Cellona, directs all transport operators, enforcement agencies, and barangays to ensure that PUVs stop only at designated loading and unloading zones, calling the current state of roadside disorder a growing threat to commuter safety and urban mobility.

Abella-Cellona said the city can no longer tolerate the “unsafe and disorganized” practice of jeepneys, buses, taxis, and other public transport units picking up and dropping off passengers anywhere they choose, often in the middle of lanes, near intersections, or along narrow corridors.

The approved resolution emphasizes that improper loading and unloading have led to road bottlenecks, longer travel times, mid-lane stoppages, and dangerous pedestrian behavior, especially along major thoroughfares such as Osmeña Boulevard, SRP Road, N. Bacalso Avenue, and the Banilad-Talamban corridor.

The resolution cites several legal bases for the crackdown, including the Constitution’s mandate to protect public health and maintain peace and order, as well as the Local Government Code’s provision allowing LGUs to regulate traffic and ensure the safety and convenience of their constituents.

Abella-Cellona said effective traffic governance requires “clear rules, consistent enforcement, and shared responsibility” among agencies and transport groups.

Under the measure, all public transportation units, including modern and traditional jeepneys, buses, taxis, and motorcycle-for-hire services, must load and unload exclusively at Cebu City Transportation Office

(CCTO)-designated stops. Stopping at non-designated areas, intersections, mid-lanes, pedestrian lanes, or any unsafe sections of the road is strictly prohibited.

The resolution orders the CCTO to:

Deploy more personnel to critical corridors

Conduct regular and surprise inspections

Coordinate closely with CCPO, LTO-7, and LTFRB-7 for synchronized citywide enforcement

Install and maintain visible signage identifying official stops

Publish maps, advisories, and materials to inform the public

Moreover, barangays were tasked to support monitoring efforts by deploying qualified tanods as Transport Safety Monitors, working directly with the CCTO.

Transport cooperatives and operators are required to disseminate the new regulations to their members and strictly enforce discipline within their fleets.

The city’s Public Information Office is likewise directed to launch a comprehensive information and education campaign to ensure commuters understand where they can safely wait for rides and the penalties for violations.

The Council said the measure is a necessary step to “restore order” along the city’s main and secondary roads, reduce accidents, and improve the overall commuter experience.

“The City affirms that strict observance of loading and unloading rules is an essential component of good traffic governance, commuter protection, and effective urban mobility management,” the resolution states.(TGP)