Two groups to help address traffic congestion

CEBU, Philippines - With a new man at the helm of the City Traffic Operations Management, the Cebu Auto Dealers Association and newly-formed Professionals for Active Citizenship and Transformation have expressed its commitment in helping decongest traffic in Cebu City.

In their monthly meeting yesterday, CABA invited CITOM Executive Director Victor Caindec to talk on his plans and moves in decongesting traffic.

Caindec said that as of now what CITOM needs are traffic cones for the roads and for active citizen participation in solving traffic problems in the city.

In response, CABA past president Jose Manuel Cuenco said each member-brand would donate traffic cones to CITOM.

PACT’s Cerwin Eviota also said their newly formed group has made what it calls the “#GiveWayTaBai” campaign.

“We thought of this campaign, #GiveWayTaBai to focus sa junction box nga kun dili ka kalusot, give way kay naa pud ang pedestrian lane dapat pud i-respect. Mabalik-balik og advocate nga atong mga drivers and citizens nga ma-conscious ani,” he said.

Eviota said their group’s members are Facebook users who used to rant on social media about their bad experiences in the streets who want to contribute to create positive change in the community.

“One of their activities is the advocacy to propagate road courtesy, the concept of giving way,” he said.

The group, Eviota said, aims to promote road discipline, responsible driving, respect for the junction box, among others.

“Instead of ranting like traffic managers, think of ways on how to help decongest our traffic,” Eviota said.

CABA President Lowell Francis Belarmino also said old and dilapidated cars should no longer be allowed to be in the streets as they post hazard to motorists and pedestrians.

“Solving the traffic problem needs cooperation from everyone, including the pedestrians, not just the drivers,” Caindec also said.

“What’s nice about this is ang collaboration is starting to come together, allowing CITOM to look at what do we need to recalibrate sa atong deployment, sa capability sa atong tawo sa pag-enforce,” said Caindec, adding that CITOM needs active citizen participation to bring back sanity in the city streets.

Caindec said CITOM will be using all available technology to improve its response, and was happy about PACT’s initiative.

He said, holding a road stakeholders dialogue would not fly because they would be hesitant in sharing their thoughts, which is not the case in social media.

“We cannot do it in a forum kay dili man sila kasulti.  In social media, we have all the hard comments coming in.” Caindec said.  (FREEMAN)