DPWH to use road user taxes to buy traffic lights for CSCR

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, who is the chairman of the City of Talisay Traffic Operation and Development Authority (CT-TODA), yesterday said the Department of Public Works and Highways plans to use the national government’s road user taxes in order to replace traffic lights installed at the Cebu South Coastal Road in Talisay City.

Bucao said DPWH will acquire new three to four traffic lights to be placed at the Cebu South Coastal Road and in barangay Tabunok.

Last week, a representative of the DPWH Second Engineering District met with some officials from the Talisay City traffic group to say the agency will install new traffic lights at the CSCR.

Engr. George Laroa, who represented DPWH in the meeting, said spending the road user tax for the new traffic lights is one option.

The Road user’s taxes are collected from vehicle owners, whether for hire, private, or government use.  Eighty percent of the taxes collected will go to the special road support fund such as road maintenance and improvement of road drainage; five percent will go to the special local road fund, 7.5 percent will go the special vehicle population control fund and the remaining percentage will go to the special road safety fund, which includes the installation of  traffic lights and other road safety devices.

As of now, the CT-TODA is still looking for interested suppliers that will provide new traffic light models.

He said his department is looking for suppliers that could provide traffic lights with matching close circuit television (CCTV) cameras included in its components.

CT-TODA  chief Almond dela Peña has found a supplier that could provide what is needed.

But he has estimated that about P1 million per component will be spent for traffic lights and control panels.

As of now, CT-TODA personnel manually control the traffic lights at the CSCR.  (FREEMAN)