Rama’s aide: Traffic light system obsolete

CEBU, Philippines —  What had been called as a “state-of-the-art” traffic light system which includes a counter in Cebu City during the late mayor Edgardo Labella’s administration is now considered obsolete.

“Traffic light counters are no longer ‘recommendable’, shared one of Mayor Michael Rama’s special assistants, Ernest Herrera.

This after their quick visit to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s main office in Manila together with the Cebu City Transportation Office assistant head, Atty. Kent Franscesco Jongoy.

“All over the world, kita ray nakagamit ing ana..Dili na haom sa panahon,” said Herrera during the Bayanihan, Barangayan, Boluntarismo program aired over XFM.

Herrera and Jongoy were sent to MMDA by Rama to observe how MMDA handles the traffic situation in 17 local government units in Metro Manila which are mostly highly-urbanized ones.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes was very accommodating to the Cebu City representatives and was kind enough to tour them to its command center where they also saw how high-tech their equipment is.

“It was a very fruitful na pagbisita nato sa acting chair of MMDA as per instruction of Mayor Mike Rama to improve traffic here…Nakita nako ang ilang high tech gadgets

which we can adopt sa atong syudad,” said Herrera.

One of the gadgets that really placed Herrera in awe was MMDA’s cameras that can be zoomed 30 times and still get a very clear picture of a plate of a vehicle to easily identify violators.

Herrera said MMDA is using technology from the likes of Korea, Germany and Singapore which is also applicable here.

For the meantime, it is also important for the local enforcers to update their skills which MMDA is also willing to help accordingly.

Aside from the training, MMDA is also expected to personally see the city’s traffic system and see for themselves what needs to be upgraded or kept.