Oca, Rufus, Dongkoy on traffic

Churchill Aguilar

WITH the growing number of vehicles as well as visitors passing through our city, traffic management has been quite a challenge in the past decade. There’s the issue on motorists’ discipline, awareness and obedience of traffic rules and generally the management of traffic flow especially on busy streets of our city.

Although traffic management may come as auxiliary function of the LGU, the adverse effect of a mismanaged traffic would cut across not only social but economic losses as well for everyone.

Question: How do you propose to solve the perennial problem on road traffic in our city?

Mayor Oca: “Not only that CDO was not prepared over the past years for a burgeoning volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, but education of road users was also wanting. Also, a weak organization cannot be expected to strongly execute its mandate such that one major focus now is to strengthen the RTA as the traffic manager of the city.

“ • Further strengthen the RTA until the organization will have become well-equipped to maintain a comfortable network for road users in terms of equipment, manpower and the right values and work attitudes of organic and deputized organizers.

“ • Educating road users will continue at an aggressive pace. The RTA Education Section will be strengthened towards this end.

“ • The traffic signalization and CCTV systems will be fully operated and linked to an operation center where no-contact apprehension of violators will be implemented.

“ • Review and redistribute the established routes of public transport to ease traffic in congested areas. This has also become necessary with the opening of new roads.

“ • Integrate RTA, CDRRMC and other related groups resulting to the formation of a Homeland Security Department that will address concerns on traffic, disaster preparedness, drug prevention and allied issues.”

Congressman Rufus:  “In my 10-Point Program, I will start with a comprehensive traffic education program for motorists, commuters, students and the general public. I will also add more disciplined and hardworking traffic enforcers. The next tier of the approach in solving the traffic problem is deputizing barangay tanods, CVOs, NGOs so they can assist in implementing traffic rules within their barangays.

“I will also establish an Emergency Response System that would efficiently and effectively address vehicular accidents. I am also planning a river taxi project as an alternative public utility vehicle for commuters.

“With me in my Team Rufus Harus are Colonel Boy Marban of District 1 and General Filipino Amoguis of District 2 that could help me in implementing these programs.

“If you have more questions on my 10-Point Agenda or any comments and concerns, you can send me a message in my official Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/RufusBRodriguez”

Former Mayor Dongkoy: “Traffic congestion cannot be solved with one static system only. It has to be a real time, responsive system with various alternatives for anticipated and unanticipated bottlenecks and problems. This can include:

“ • The opening of new growth areas, like those which were identified in the land use plan drawn up and pursued under my administration (e.g. Bulua-Bayabas-Kauswagan, upper Carmen-Lumbia, Indahag, Tablon, Balubal-Upper Puerto , etc.) to distribute urban activities.

“ • The construction of additional bridges. My administration undertook the construction of two (2) new bridges and proposed the construction of two (2) more by the national government.

“ • Conducting a more comprehensive time and motion study to improve vehicular movement, routing, and better placement of traffic lights.”

Previous attempts to ease traffic congestions have still been found wanting especially on peak hours as the number of vehicles increased drastically in the last few years. And this is being experienced in all cities around the country. Yet still we hope that we may be the first to come up with an efficient traffic management system that can ease our way out of urban traffic congestion.

You have read their take. Who do you think among the three can efficiently put in place an effective traffic management system?