Traffic Cases Test Iloilo City System

For the first time, the Iloilo City government has taken a decisive legal step against traffic violators.

The Transportation and Traffic Management Office (TTMO) filed charges against seven individuals who ignored their traffic citations despite the grace period provided by law.

Around 100 more cases are reportedly in the pipeline.

This is a breakthrough in enforcement—a welcome shift from the old norm where traffic rules existed but were rarely followed or taken seriously.

But now that the TTMO has gone from issuing tickets to initiating prosecutions, the next logical question must be asked: Is the city ready for this?

The symbolic power of the legal action is undeniable.

TTMO head Retired Col. Uldarico Garbanzos declared it a “historic moment,” a clear signal that the city is determined to impose discipline on its roads.

But there are practical consequences that deserve equal scrutiny. Filing a handful of cases is one thing. Filing a hundred—or more—is another.

The City Prosecutor’s Office is already dealing with a backlog of criminal complaints, including drug cases, domestic violence, and crimes against persons and property.

With limited personnel and no apparent additional resources, can it accommodate a surge of traffic violation complaints without displacing more urgent legal matters?

It is not far-fetched to imagine prosecutors choosing between filing a reckless driving case or acting on a rape complaint, simply because of time and staff constraints.

And once these cases land in court, we run the risk of clogging an already congested judicial system.

While the TTMO has the legal mandate to go after violators, the sheer volume of cases it plans to file could overwhelm the city’s justice machinery.

What we fear is that traffic complaints—while legally sound—might slow down the resolution of serious crimes that demand swifter justice.

The local government should evaluate early on whether this approach is sustainable and productive.

We suggest that a formal review be conducted six months after the first batch of complaints is filed.

The review must assess whether this new legal route has actually led to increased collections or improved compliance among motorists.

It should also determine if the filing of cases has discouraged violators, reduced repeat offenses, or simply created more paperwork.

If the system becomes overburdened, alternatives must be on the table.

For minor violations such as illegal parking or riding without a helmet, the city might consider converting unpaid fines into community service hours.

This would still promote accountability while easing the load on prosecutors and judges.

Beyond enforcement, the larger challenge remains: How do we prevent these violations in the first place?

Issuing tickets and filing cases are reactive tools. For Iloilo City to develop lasting road discipline, it must invest more in prevention.

Poor signage, faded road markings, confusing traffic patterns, and limited pedestrian infrastructure all contribute to violations—often unintentionally.

The city must identify hotspots where violations frequently occur and determine whether the problem is one of behavior, environment, or both.

A driver ignoring a no-left-turn sign may be careless—or may not even see the sign in time.

Similarly, illegal parking may not stem from stubbornness but from a lack of designated parking spaces in congested barangays.

Education is just as vital. Most motorists, including public utility drivers, are unaware of updated traffic rules and the full consequences of violations.

The city government, through TTMO and barangay councils, must roll out sustained public information campaigns that emphasize compliance not just to avoid punishment, but to promote safety and order.

There must also be tighter coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Currently, many violators feel they can ignore their citations with impunity, knowing that city-level fines are not reflected in LTO’s database.

This loophole allows drivers with pending violations to renew licenses or vehicle registrations without consequence.

TTMO must work with LTO to integrate their databases so that unpaid fines or unresolved infractions block renewals or result in automatic penalties.

That kind of administrative penalty might actually prove more effective than court charges, which could take months or years to resolve.

The effort to enforce traffic discipline must be comprehensive, not just punitive.

Legal action, while powerful, should be part of a broader traffic management ecosystem: one that includes infrastructure improvements, public education, LTO coordination, and alternative sanctions.

The filing of cases is a bold start—but it must not end there.

In fact, the goal should be that, in the near future, no case ever needs to be filed—because violations are few, and compliance becomes the norm.

That is the real traffic revolution Iloilo City must aim for.