CITOM budget covers traffic signal upgrade

CEBU, Philippines - Over 40 percent of the proposed Cebu City Transportation Office allocation under the proposed 2015 annual budget is for improvement of the city’s traffic signalization.

The City Transportation Officer Rafael Christopher Yap said P150 million has been earmarked for the construction and enhancement of traffic signals.

In a recent resolution, the CCTO (formerly CITOM) Board said there is a need to upgrade and update the current “obsolete” system, considering that the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System was acquired way back in 1991, or 23 years ago, under the Metro Cebu Development Project-3.

CCTO’s proposed total allocation for next year was pegged at P357.81 million, which includes funds for personnel services (P124l.39 million), maintenance and other operating expenses (P42.66million), and capital Outlay at P190,750,000.

Apart from traffic signalization upgrade, part of the capital outlay would go to the development of CCTO’s impounding area at the South Road Properties amounting to P23 million.

The proposed capital outlay allocation likewise includes funds for the purchase of clamps (P7.25 million), traffic barriers (P5 million), and communication equipment (P3.5 million); fabrication of 3M pedestrian railings (P1 million); and feasibility design for the CITOM building (P1 million).

Part of the MOOE was also for the miscellaneous traffic management services cost (P13 million) and for maintenance of traffic lights system (P2.23 million).

P10 million has also been appropriated for reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings, other supplies and materials for road signs maintenance (P5 million), and anti-smoke belching operations materials (P265,186).—/RHM  (FREEMAN)