City dad pushes for real estate developers to submit traffic plan

CEBU, Philippines -  Amid the traffic congestion concern in Cebu City, a measure has been proposed requiring all real estate developers and construction firms to submit traffic impact assessments before starting their development.

City Councilor Gerardo Carillo, the author of the ordinance, said that the city is currently experiencing a boom in the construction of high rise buildings, mixed-use complexes and business parks which cause “severe strain in its traffic situation.”

“These construction activities have also contributed a lot to traffic congestions due to limited road space available in the city,” he said.

The proposed measure is known as the “Traffic Impact Assessment Ordinance.”

Section 3 of the proposed ordinance states that “all real estate developers and or construction firms are required to obtain traffic impact assessment and pay traffic impact assessment fee to the city government of Cebu prior to the issuance of Building Permit by the Office of the Building Official.”

Section 4 of the proposed ordinance also states that “the traffic impact assessment shall be conducted by the TIA team taking into consideration among others the duration of the implementation of said project, the level of risk to the pedestrians and moving vehicles, project location, and the site development and structural cost of the proposed project in determining the traffic impact assessment fee.”

The proposed measure seeks to impose 10 percent more than the assessment fee plus work stoppage order from OBO. Collected revenues will be part of Cebu City Traffic Operations Management’s funds and shall only be utilized to augment CITOM personnel in areas where there is an ongoing building construction activity and when there is a shortage of CITOM personnel.

Carillo said that CITOM is the only authorized lead agency to formulate the equitable tariff in determining traffic impact assessment fees and to determine the traffic impact assessment team who will conduct the assessment, adding that there should be concurrence of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

A public hearing is set on January 7 to hear the various opinions of stakeholders on the proposed ordinance.  (FREEMAN)