Cebu traffic czar sees need for diversion roads

CEBU, Philippines — The traffic czar of Cebu province sees the need for southern towns to have diversion roads after managing a three-hour bottleneck there yesterday morning.

Cebu Provincial Traffic Management focal person Jonathan Tumulak said localities in the southern corridor must establish diversion roads or alternative routes in case the national highway is inaccessible.

He said traffic in Barangay Casay, Dalaguete was disrupted after a trailer blocked the entire two lanes of the national road that even a motorcycle can hardly pass through.

Based on initial investigation, he said, the truck suddenly conked out while traversing a curve road.

No one was hurt in the incident, he said.

Tumulak said it led to a heavy traffic buildup for hours.

To ease traffic, he said, an undeveloped municipal road was opened, but only for light vehicles. The municipal government also implemented a re-routing scheme.

He said the bus operators also helped by implementing a “dawat-dawat” system.

He said the southbound bus passengers were accommodated by buses bound for Cebu City and vice versa.

“Kay di man kalahos ang mga sakyanan, ang mga buses nag-exchange rag pasahero aron di malangay,” he said.

Tumulak said it took about three hours before authorities moved the trailer, which was loaded with sacks of cement, to the side of the road.

He said the town's disaster unit assisted in unloading the sacks to reduce the trailer’s weight

Moreover, Tumulak has recommended to authorities to look into trucks which do not follow the required carrying capacity.

He also urged delivery truck operators to safeguard their men and vehicles to avoid accidents. —  KBQ (FREEMAN)