PUJ operator told to pay for traffic light repairs

CEBU, Philippines – The City Traffic Operations Management has ordered the operator of a passenger jeepney that hit and damaged the traffic lighting system at the corner of Gorordo Ave. and Escario St. to shoulder the repairs of the lights.

Although CITOM chairman Sylvan Jakosalem failed to name the concerned PUJ operator, he said the operator is willing to pay P104,000 needed to buy the spare parts.

"Mihangyo hinuon ang operator nga siya lay mamalit sa gikinahanglang piyesa pero paubanan gihapon namo og sakop sa CITOM engineering section aron pagsiguro nga mao g'yud ang piyesa nga mapalit," said Jakosalem.

For more than two weeks now, the traffic lights at the intersection have not functioned after its circuit was destroyed when a jeepney hit a traffic post.

"Nakatagpilaw kuno ang drayber," said the personnel of the CITOM's maintenance section when The FREEMAN asked why the incident happened.

While Jakosalem claimed that a CITOM enforcer is always assigned at the intersection, sometimes no one mans the traffic there.

Motorists passing there usually just muscle their way through the opposing traffic flow, particularly during the evening.

It was learned that as of yesterday some traffic lighting systems that are installed in various places of the city have no link to the regional computers at the CITOM en-gineering office.

These traffic lights are situated at corners of N. Bacalso and V. Rama avenues; Panganiban St. and Natalio Bacalso Ave.; Juan Luna Ave. and Sergio Osmeña St. in Mabolo and at the corner of M. J. Cuenco Ave. and V. Sotto St.

While these traffic lights are still functioning, these are no longer connected to the regional computers, meaning even if the particular road does not have vehicular traf-fic it will not automatically shift to a stoplight to give way to the other side. (FREEMAN)