Mandaue to set up new traffic lights, cctv cameras

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government will soon install in fourteen major intersections modern traffic lights equipped with a close circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

This is the only way to address the city’s heavy traffic congestion, according to Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) director Maj. Erwin Ermac.

The fiber optic cameras will help monitor the flow of traffic, spot bottlenecks, as well as help solve crimes.

Ermac said traffic will be monitored in the command center.

The cameras and high end traffic lights will also have an audio timer which will guide persons with disabilities when to cross streets and a censor which can determine the volume of traffic.

Ermac said that with the CCTV cameras, traffic personnel can easily spot where traffic is building up and through a handheld radio, a traffic enforcer can easily be deployed to solve the problem.

The introduction of the new traffic lights and cameras will also reduce the number of traffic enforcers in the streets.

At this time, the number of traffic enforcers along United Nations Avenue up to the Mandaue City Sports Complex is about 15.

Once the lights are installed, only 4 traffic personnel will remain in the area.

The new traffic lights will be installed in the intersections of Soriano Street corner SB Cabahug Street, Ouano Street corner CD Seno Street, AS Fortuna corner MC Briones Street, AC Cortes Street corner Plaridel Street, AC Cortes Street corner SB Cabahug, and CD Seno Street corner A del Rosario Street.

At present, six of the 14 traffic lights have already been installed and will be operational not later than August.

The New Mandaue Public Market will serve as a U-turn slot for vehicles bound for city hall. (FREEMAN)