Group wants EDSA traffic scheme in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - A local transport group wants a traffic management scheme limiting private vehicles proposed for EDSA in Manila to be also applied in Cebu.

Visayas United Drivers Transport Service Cooperative chairman Alex Bordadora believed this would help address rising traffic congestion in Cebu.

“Can we apply this also in Cebu? It…(applies) deviation (from) the road. Private vehicles can take a detour to give priority to PUVs,” Bordadora said yesterday.

Under the proposed scheme, as presented by lawyer Ariel Inton, a board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, certain private vehicles will be barred from plying EDSA during the morning rush hour.

Similar to a coding scheme, private vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 would be allowed on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays.

The suggested major places that this scheme could be applied include Osmeña Boulevard and the Banilad-Talamban area.

Unlike in EDSA, however, Bordadora wanted to have this scheme implemented from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sought for reaction to the proposal, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management Office Executive Director Rafael Christopher Yap said it might not be the best scheme for a local traffic problem.

“Traffic patterns in Osmeña Jones area are vastly different from (those in) EDSA. Osmeña Jones and the rest of Cebu City, even BanTal (Banilad-Talamban), are mostly tidal in character. Meaning, there is a peak period and non-peak period, unlike EDSA where (traffic volume) is always (at its) peak,” he told The FREEMAN.

He, however, assured that a formal proposal will be discussed and deliberated upon by the CITOM board.

“The problem is more (and more public transport and private) drivers lack discipline. If only everyone follows traffic rules, we would have smooth-moving traffic even during peak hours,” Yap said.

He cited as examples vehicles that stop at no stopping zones and passengers disembarking outside jeepney stops.

Inton admitted of being unfamiliar with Cebu’s traffic situation but said his proposal “gives priority to PUVs on the road.”

“This is more of a road rationalization program. This is not saying that we are banning private vehicles from using the road. Let us use the road not at the same time,” he said.

Inton was in Cebu to listen to stakeholders, as he was tasked to lead the possible revision of chapter 4 (franchise-related violations) of the controversial Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.—(FREEMAN)