Almendras seeks traffic system repair at no cost to City Gov’t

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s new traffic czar will try his best to rehabilitate the defective computerized traffic signal system installed in major intersections without cost to the government.

Ruben Almendras, the new chairman of the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) Board, said he will ask financial assistance from National Government agencies.

The brother of Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, the new Citom head will try to convince the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to allocate money to repair the gadgets popularly known as Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) that were installed in 1990.

It would be very expensive for the City to buy a new computerized traffic signal system that is why Almendras wants the City to coordinate first with the supplier who might be able to fix the problem without spending too much.

CITOM Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap earlier said that the special gadgets installed beneath the road in 60 of the 78 intersections are already defective, probably because of the constant vibrations caused by passing vehicles or due to the asphalt-laying in roads.

The gadgets buried under the road near the intersections are designed to transmit signals to the main traffic control.

When the gadgets were still working, they were able to adjust automatically the signal’s pre-timed phase lengths in response to traffic flow.

This meant that if there are no vehicles detected, the controller automatically transmits a red signal and simultaneously a green signal for the other side of the road.

Almendras also wants to have more closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed in major and secondary roads to help monitor the flow of traffic and guide motorists on which road to use.

He also said it’s better to allow more transport terminals to operate in the city to reduce the number of vehicles in roads.  (FREEMAN)