Sportsman pushes for reduction of speed limit in Cebu City

Voltaire Montebon (second from right) and LTO Region VII director Victor Caindec (third from left) pose for the camera after their meeting where Montebon informed Caindec of his group’s petition to lower the speed limit in Cebu City. CDN Digital photo | Voltaire Montebon via Glendale G. Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines— Cebuano sportsman Voltaire Montebon and his group, VDM Sports got the support of both Land Transportation Office (LTO) Regional Director Victor Caindec and Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo on his petition to lower the speed limit in Cebu City to 30 kilometers per hour (30kph) for all vehicles to lessen road-related accidents.

Montebon and his cycling group which organizes long-distance rides around Cebu to promote wellness and health had a meeting with Caindec today, April 30, 2021, to inform the latter of his group’s petition.

According to Montebon, Caindec supports his cause and even encouraged him to pursue his petition. CDN Digital tried to reach Caindec for comments but the director has yet to reply as of this posting.

“If there is a speed limit, you can control your vehicle even more. Overspeeding is the main cause of accidents because the driver loses control of the vehicle. We can lessen the accidents when there is a speed limit. We can even help prevent fatal accidents to happen,” said Montebon.

Montebon is planning to gather one thousand signatures to support his petition.

The 44-year old Ironman 70.3 finisher is expecting that his petition will draw the ire of many motorists in the city.

“Daghan jud mga motorista mangasuko namo karon, pero maka realize ra na sila kung sila na madisgrasya or sila maka disgrasya. Maka realize ra na sila sa petition namo,” Montebon stated.

Meanwhile, Guardo said he is backing Montebon’s cause since he had personally witnessed several accidents particularly at the Transcentral Highway (TCH) in upland Cebu City.

He recently got the approval of the City Council to ask the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board (SBLB) to conduct basic safety training for newbie cyclists in Cebu City.

Guardo said that since an earlier speed limit ordinance authored by Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia was already approved, he will suggest to Montebon to draft a petition to amend such ordinance instead.

Guardo said that as a sign of support to Montebon’s petition, he will file a resolution in the Council to urge the LTO and the Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO) to strengthen their monitoring against overspeeding especially in accident-prone areas such as the TCH.

“I fully support his petition. Sometimes mag bike mi and mag standby mi sa TCH, grabe gyud ka kusog ang mga motor ug mga sakyanan. Grabe ka kusog labi na mag maneuver. Ang mga bikers hinay-hinay ra biya na sila. The speed has to be regulated to all vehicles both public and private, especially when they go to national roads including TCH,” said Guardo.

“There has to be a limitation on speed and this will apply to all vehicles. Primarily we want to save lives, we don’t lose the life of a person just because of the recklessness of driving, kanang mga magpataka lang pakusog ug dagan,” said Guardo.

Montebon, on his side, plans to approach the Cebu Provincial Government about his petition.

/rcg