Expect more traffic

CEBU, Philippines – As early as now, the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 is telling the public to brace for more traffic next year as the implementation schedule of some of the 2015 and 2016 infrastructure projects will overlap.

DPWH-7 Regional Director Ador Canlas said that for 2016, Region 7 has a total of P16.9 billion worth of infrastructure projects of which P9 billion is earmarked for Cebu.

The amount is higher by P4.9 billion compared to last year’s P12 billion.

“Mas marami ang 2016 kaysa 2015 infrastructure projects at mag-overlap yan. Yes, there will be traffic in the sense pag may development, may traffic talaga yan,” said Canlas.

Canlas said that the public should think about the consequences after the inconvenience.

“The consequence after the traffic, ‘yun ang mas importante,” Canlas added.

These infrastructure projects, Canlas said, includes road expansion, upgrading and improvement of roads, among others.

Canlas also said that in implementing their infrastructure projects the trees that will be affected also pose another challenge, these and the telecommunication poles and other utility poles.

“Pero kapag may expansion of roads, talaga ‘yung right of way malaking problema especially in Cebu napakataas ng presyo ng lupa,” Canlas said.

Traffic bodies ready

Traffic is already worsening in some areas of the urban cities such as Cebu and Mandaue, where road widening, rehabilitation works and other infrastructure projects have also contributed to congestion.

But the Cebu City Transportation Office said its team is more than prepared to impose traffic schemes to ease traffic congestion if road constructions will start.

“Our planning, operations and engineering divisions are on standby for any eventuality especially on the matter of rerouting public utility vehicles if needed  to give way for these infrastructure projects,” said CCTO Executive Director Rey Gealon.

“We are ready when they are. Rest assured, motorists and commuters alike will be informed of any adjustment whatso-ever to make it least inconvenient for them,” he added.

Gealon said their office will be coordinating with DPWH-7 for them to determine where in the city the infrastructure projects will be undertaken so that the traffic enforcement arm can lay out the necessary traffic management plan.

In a separate interview, Glenn Antigua, director of the Traffic Enforcement  Agency of Mandaue, said they have not yet received the report of DPWH regarding the overlapping of projects.

He said they will have to wait for the department to inform them which roads will be affected by road infrastructure projects.

However, Antigua said they will still continue with their traffic management efforts by the time the projects will be implemented. He also said they will identify diversion roads that can be used as alternative routes depending on the area being affected by road construction or rehabilitation.

“Padayonon gihapon namo among traffic management efforts. Mo-conduct mi og rerouting. Mo-identify mi og alternate routes nga maagian sa vehicles aron mamenosan ang traffic sa area nga maapektohan sa road construction,” Antigua said. — with May B. Miasco and Jave A. Matugas/BRP (FREEMAN)