CCTO: Dry run data not enough to decide

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) could not give an initial assessment on the impact of allowing buses and mini buses to use the underpass along N. Bacalso Avenue.

During the dry run yesterday, only few buses and mini buses accessed the new road infrastructure, so it did not affect the traffic flow, said CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano.

Among the possible factor that the buses and mini buses did not pass through N. Bacalso Avenue was due to the repair of the Mananga Bridge in Talisay City.  At present, only one lane is available to traffic.

“Nahinabi sad nato ang kaning taga Talisay traffic kay ato man sad ni gi-monitor. Traffic sad kuno ang ilahang Mananga Bridge padulong ngari, basin mao sa’y rason nila nga ang ubang buses wala sad pasudli didto,” Ouano said.

He said the CCTO did not prohibit the buses and mini buses to still utilize the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) for their own convenience.

The CSCR has wide roads that can fully accommodate numerous four-wheeled vehicles, buses and mini buses.

Ouano said they will still continue to monitor the traffic situation for them to give a comprehensive assessment report to the bus operators and other concerned offices.

Yesterday was the first day of the dry run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The dry run would last until Monday.

“I think kana sigurong upat ka adlaw, makita nato unsa na’y epekto sa traffic. Pero mao lagi naa’y time sad nga traffic kaayo, naa’y time sad nga dili,” Ouano said.

He said before the construction of the underpass project, the traffic in the south district was already worse.

Last June 15, when the underpass was operational, CCTO barred buses and mini buses to use it for they can contribute to traffic.

“Pagkahuman sa underpass, gikan sa pagpaagi nato sa sakyanan, makaingon gyud ta nga hapsay ra gyud ang dagan,” Ouano said.

He added that it is up to the incoming administration whether or not to allow buses and mini buses utilize the underpass after the assessment period.

Cebu Provincial Bus and Mini Bus Operators Transport Cooperative (CPBMTC) Head Julie Flores said they could not expect that numerous buses and mini buses will access the underpass within the dry run period due to their travel interval.

It was CCTO which decided the dry run schedule in order not to hamper the traffic flow during peak hours.

As of press time, Flores already told the bus and mini bus operators to inform their drivers to participate in the dry run in order to see the possible effect of traffic in the south district.

“Dapat naa ni coordination from Talisay traffic to Cebu City kay aron ang buses and mini buses dili na pasudlon sa CSCR. Aron maobserbahan nato og unsa ka epektibo ang underpass,” Flores said.

If the buses and mini buses could not hamper the traffic flow, Flores said he would ask the incoming administration to allow them utilize the underpass.

Flores said they are amenable with the proposal to consult the affected barangays and schools, following Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak’s recommendations.

In a separate interview, Tumulak said there are bus drivers who don’t want to pass through the underpass due to the traffic situation at the Mananga Bridge.

“Kung ang tanang buses ari nimo paagion, daghan kaayo og maapektohan, traffic, disgrasya, panglawas tungod sa polusyon, negosyo sa mga negosyante nga daplin sa dalan, mga barangays. Bisan pa man nahuman ang tunnel, dili kana assurance nga wala’y traffic,” he said. —/GAN (FREEMAN)