Councilor wants traffic impact study for the city

CEBU, Philippines - Recognizing the traffic congestion brought about by development, a resolution was passed requesting the City Traffic Operations Management and the City Planning office to conduct a traffic impact assessment for Cebu City.

“The city’s fast and consistent development is inevitably accompanied by traffic congestion,” Cebu City councilor Noel Wenceslao said in his proposed resolution during the regular session pressing the serious need to address traffic congestion in the city.

A traffic impact assessment is a useful tool for managing traffic and in planning respective transportation system, the councilor continued.

An increase in both registered motor vehicles and drivers’ licenses was noted by Land Transportation Office.  In a comparative study it conducted, LTO said there is an increase of 10 percent of the total number of vehicles in Central Visayas for the past three years.

In 2010, registered motor vehicles in Region 7 were 437,557. It increased to 486,012 in 2011 and 529,612 last year.

LTO also noted a total of 277,753 drivers’ license and permits were issued in Central Visayas in 2012.  This is an increase from 254,230 in 2011 and 235,115 in 2010.

Urban planners have also pushed for a traffic impact assessment as a scientific approach to solving traffic problems.

A few years ago, jeepneys from Mandaue City were barred from plying major thoroughfares of Cebu City which has lessened rush hour traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, Wenceslao, in the same regular session, proposed to authorize Mayor Michael Rama to donate equipments that will help the council in carrying its livelihood programs, seminars and trainings.

The city government will give Barangay Budlaan, through Barangay Captain Nerissa Antolihao, a Live MX-802D portable sound system, two Titan speakers, two Shure microphones and two KX 450 Way Bass Reflex Karaoke speaker systems.  (FREEMAN)