EDITORIAL - Traffic woes won’t be solved unless local execs will unite

For the past days, traffic has become almost unbearable in some areas in Metro Cebu. This is a common occurrence during days leading to Christmas since many would go out to shop for gifts or attend parties and other gatherings.

Last year, we experienced the worst traffic gridlock in the metro when motorists heading south had to endure at least seven hours of congestion from the Cebu South Coastal Road in Talisay City all the way to San Fernando a day before Christmas.

A highway accident was reportedly the cause of the traffic. Such occurrence has become a normal sight in the metro where many drivers have become notoriously reckless. The problem, however, is that there wasn’t a single traffic enforcer manning the highway during that day who could have responded to the accident.

Have local traffic authorities learned a lesson from that unforgettable incident? We have yet to see. Traffic in the metro is still a daily nightmare, especially in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue. In fact, the situation during this holiday season has gone from bad to worse.

Now, what remedies have our traffic officials outlined in anticipation of the traffic? At least, the Cebu City Transportation Office is reportedly deploying over 400 traffic enforcers to man the streets around the city, specifically those busy thoroughfares.

Councilor David Tumulak also urged barangays to send all tanods to the streets to assist Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel in securing motorists and the riding public from carolers and street dwellers, whose presence is also affecting traffic flow.

Well, the public expects local government units to take the necessary steps against the worsening traffic problem and prevent a repeat of last year’s incident in the south. Of course, this problem will never be solved unless all local officials will unite in dealing with this monster.