EDITORIAL – Traffic mess

It seems the approval of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) of a resolution declaring a traffic crisis across the province, especially around Metro Cebu, did not receive much attention from majority of Cebuanos, especially the riding public.

What has really surprised the general public is the obvious late reaction of our provincial legislators to the worsening road traffic problem that has been taking a heavy toll on Cebuanos economically and physically for years.

During its regular session Monday, the PB approved a resolution proclaiming a traffic crisis in Cebu. The measure, authored by Board Member Glenn Soco, has noted heavy congestion of private cars and public utility vehicles along roads in Metro Cebu and the province.

“The regular commuters, drivers and the riding public brace for the worsening traffic situation on a day-to-day basis that incidents of road-rage due to heated arguments during gridlocks are very common, traffic accidents which sometimes cause the loss of lives due to undisciplined driving are already happening,” Soco said in a privilege speech.

In his resolution, Soco took into account a daily average loss of P1.1 billion caused by the poorly-managed traffic system in Metro Cebu as shown by a study of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The board member called on LGUs in the province to make a consolidated effort in establishing a comprehensive solution to the traffic problem, saying the traffic crisis shortened the people’s quality of life.

“A more effective approach would have been to harmonize the efforts and initiatives of the different government units and other national government agencies in order to streamline the implementation of efficient and sustainable road traffic policies and plans,” he said.

The traffic mess has been pestering Cebu for nearly two decades already. And it’s sad that our local officials have taken a serious approach only now when the problem is already costing Cebuanos hundreds of millions of pesos a day.