Green Loop caused ‘terrible’ traffic

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Hall wants to “meticulously” evaluate the Green Loop experiment after it reportedly caused “terrible” traffic jam in four pilot routes over the weekend.

Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella said traffic bottlenecks on multi-road lanes were formed, although these roads have not experienced impediments before, especially on a Sunday.

“I have noticed that there were road blocks and bottlenecks that were unnecessarily created as a result of the experiment. I can concur that there were really congestions in areas which have not been experiencing traffic jams, especially on a Sunday, like in Escario Street and Gorordo Avenue,” he said.

He said he actually experienced how “terrible” the traffic was after visiting a barangay in the mountain areas.

“I experienced it from Busay going down to Gorordo then to Escario; there was really a terrible traffic jam. Moving ang mga vehicles but very slow, that’s why i-review and tan-awon ni og maayo,” he said.

The city has also received complaints from motorists and riding public, who said the road-sharing experiment was “disturbing.”

Labella said the city through the City Traffic Operations Management is expected to submit an assessment report, particularly on the traffic impact. The event organizers are also set to submit reports which will be evaluated by the city.

CITOM executive director Lawyer Rafael Yap, who was tasked by the mayor to make necessary report, said he is still collating reports for appropriate and just assessments.

Meanwhile, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide-Cebu supported the said road scheme. (FREEMAN)