LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government reminded the public of the strict implementation of the pertinent provisions of Executive Order No. 05, series of 2018 that declared every Thursday of the first week of every month as a Care free Day within the premises of the town hall.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda said that the implementation of a Car free Day will apply to privately owned motor vehicles and motorcycles intending to enter, park or traverse through the premises of the municipal building.
However, exempted from the implementation of the said order are government and private vehicles used by persons with disabilities (PWDs)and senior citizens.
Further, the covered areas in the implementation of the Car free day include the entrance to the premises of the municipal building, the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station (LTMPS) parking area, the municipal parking areas and the gymnasium parking area.
Salda clarified that the trading post road will not be included in the coverage of the Car free Day considering its importance in the smooth transport of agricultural crops to the various markets in the lowlands and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Under the guidelines covering the implementation of the Car free Day, no municipal government official or employee shall use their respective private vehicles or motorcycles during the covered period.
Concerned officials and employees were directed to walk or use the public transport or non-motorized transport in reporting to work to set as an example for people transacting business with the local government to follow.
The local chief executive claimed that the implementation of the Car free Day in the municipality is part of the efforts to help in significantly reducing the pollutants in the air, especially those coming from the smoke being emitted by motor vehicles.
Moreover, the implementation of the Car free Day will also provide the avenue for the crafting of the ordinance that will prescribe the guidelines governing the institutionalization of the same, particularly in other roads in the municipality that will be covered by the said program.
The mayor called on the affected vehicle owners to bear with the inconveniences that will be caused by the implementation of the said order so that the local government will be able to craft the appropriate guidelines governing the implementation of the Car free Day purposely for the preservation and protection of the environment and the health of the residents and visitors alike.
He said that the Car free Day will be strictly enforced until further notice from the local government and that the participation of motorists is highly appreciated because what matters is the contribution of the local government to the efforts to clean the air and allow people to use alternative modes of transportation in going to work or transact business with the concerned offices of the local government.
Moreover, the reduction of the number of vehicles plying the premises of the municipal hall will also contribute in easing the daily traffic congestions in the area that will be beneficial to the public. By Dexter A. See
