Cheapest solution to traffic problems

"Daghana sa libaong uy…"

A friend complained about how driving around the city has become a nightmare owing to the many potholes that he can't seem to avoid.

"Ikaw muagi man gyud kag Talamban, kanang dapit sa First Autogas, wa ka ma-shot anang libaong diha nga nagkalwom na?"

He was apparently referring to a pothole in that area that many drivers can't see and it seems to be quite deep now.

"Magmotor gani ang maigo diha nga lungag aw disgrasya gyud," our friend added.

There have been news about asphalt storm, but we don't see many repairs going on now compared to those days in the early 1990s when the original asphalt storm was launched in Cebu City and we really saw the difference in just a matter of days.

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A reader sent us email asking if something is being done by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about the jeepney and taxi operators, who do not have a garage for their vehicles.

We heard that something would be done about this and we hope to see something happen soon.

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Here's another email from Jesson Morata:

With the onset of the Christmas season, we expect an influx of vehicles and traffic worsens with people flocking to the malls to do their shopping. With this, I just hope that our officials, especially those overseeing the traffic management among the cities and municipalities here in Metro Cebu would anticipate the heavy traffic that would be caused by the holiday season. I hope that they will fix busted traffic lights in major intersections, for example P. del Rosario St., near the University of San   Carlos, among others. The same would go for other neighboring cities. Busted traffic lights pose danger to motorist and passengers as well.

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The need for a Metro Cebu Traffic Authority is becoming very urgent in light on this latest issue on the banning of vehicles from other areas to pass the major thoroughfares of Cebu City.

With such body, there could be a lot of problems that would be nipped on their bud and older problems solved with proper coordination of the different agencies taking care of traffic in the various local government units.

This body shall not also be beholden to one chief executive of an LGU and shall hopefully be able to put some sense back on our streets.

The cheapest solution to our traffic problem, however, lies not with any super body, but an agency that has been a around for a long time - the Land Transportation Office.

If the LTO will not issue a license to people, who are not qualified, there would be fewer drivers. If the agency will not renew the registration of dilapidated vehicles, there would be fewer vehicles on the streets. If the agency will apprehend violators and strictly impose the sanctions, fewer drivers will violate the laws thus there will be a smoother flow of vehicles.

Let's forget about the billions of pesos needed to build mass transport systems or to widen roads and concentrate on getting the things done right at the LTO.

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