Intelligent traffic system under close monitoring

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will evaluate the performance of Leotek, a California-based firm that recently conducted a dry-run needed for the implementation of an intelligent traffic system in the city.

Yesterday, CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said they will monitor Leotek for the latter’s month-long test run for the non-apprehension scheme of traffic violators. They had the dry-run at the intersection of MJ Cuenco Avenue and Barangay Carreta.

“Yes isa ta, dako gyud ang ikatabang sa CCTO especially naa ta sa traffic kay makita man nato ang sitwasyon 24 hours. Wala'y putol-putol ang monitoring. Mao na nga kailangan nato ang maayo nga traffic system,” Ouano told The FREEMAN.

MJ Cuenco Avenue is among the identified busy intersections in the city. Others are along P. Del Rosario Street and Osmeña Boulevard.

Ouano said that, after the test run, they will immediately assess the performance of Leotek which will help the mayor to decide whether or not to implement the traffic system to the entire city.

In a Facebook post last October 31, the mayor detailed that the city will implement the intelligent traffic system.

“Over the next few months, we will be evaluating how well the system works. If it functions as intended, it will be installed in all major intersections as well as high risk areas where it will help deter crimes,” read a portion of his post.

Leotek is known for global manufacturing of street, roadway, area and signal lighting products and solutions.

Last week, representatives from Leotek conducted an ocular inspection in the said area. Ouano, however, has no idea yet when the test run would officially resume this month.

Ouano said there are already several various firms who presented their respective traffic technology, but Mayor Tomas Osmeña is more interested with Leotek since it will install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras for traffic monitoring.

“Gusto sa mayor nga all-in ba, naa'y CCTV, naa'y street traffic light. Kanang all in, maka-detect sa crime, maka-detect sa disaster so mao na iyahang gusto,” he said.

Ouano is hopeful that the said system will be implemented in the entire city for the improvement of the traffic situation.

“Makita nato nga asa ang volume sa traffic, asa ang naay dasmag, asa ang silbi traffic kaayo. Through ana iyahang camera, maka-determine dayon ta. Naa man gud na siya'y sensor,” he said. — GAN (FREEMAN)