TEAM proposes CTMS traffic scheme for PUJs

CEBU, Philippines - The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue and the Mandaue City Planning and Development Office appealed to the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management Systems to let jeepneys heading to the northern Cebu take the Marcelo Fernan Bridge while also letting jeepneys bound for Cebu City take the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

TEAM executive director and head of the Mandaue City Planning and Develpoment Office Florentino Nimor said jeepneys coming from Lapu-Lapu City usually create an illegal terminal by the time they go down from the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

“Naghimo baya na sila’g illegal terminal. Unya karon, among gi-sirhan sa may gasoline station (Phoenix) ang nahitabo, mang-urong lang gihapon na hinuon. Di na mosulod sa Phoenix, mo-drop gihapon sa ilahang mga pasahero right after the street,” said Nimor, who instructed his traffic personnel to arrest jeepney drivers violating their warning.

Nimor said CTMS will still complain about the long queuing of vehicles from the airport road going down to UN Avenue but TEAM observed that traffic is “flowing” along the said area, based on footage from their closed-circuit television cameras inside their command center.

“We found out na adto diay magsawsaw og pasahero sa ilawom sa diversion road sa Pajara (Park) naa man ta’y bus. Pasahero sa bus munaog, mo-transfer sa jeepney or vice versa. Anha sila mag exchange og pasahero,” Nimor said.

He added that this is one of the reasons why traffic forms.

Sought for his reaction, CTMS Chief Frank Brazil sees possible difficulties in terms of letting jeepneys pass from the M.L. Quezon Highway going to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge. He said he finds the recommendation “not sufficient”.

“Sa among side maglisod mi kay taas ang volume gikan sa Pusok,” Brazil said. Barangay Pusok is within M.L. Quezon Highway.

“Aside ani, gikan sa MEPZA, mas malayo ang gigikanan padung sa first bridge. Mutaas ang travel time,” Brazil said.

Regarding Nimor’s request, Brazil said they will coordinate with TEAM in order to resolve their concern. — (FREEMAN)