From 6 A.M. to 8 A.M.: Underpass side roads open for city-bound vehicles only

CEBU, Philippines — In order to alleviate the traffic in the south district of Cebu City, both the side roads of the underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue will be made exclusive for northbound vehicles only from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Effective yesterday, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has implemented this new traffic scheme after they observed that there is great volume of both public and private vehicles in the morning.

CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said they changed the traffic scheme to address the bad traffic condition in the south district.

“Ganinang buntag, naa gihapo’y traffic kay nabag-ohan man ang mga tawo nga abli na ang side roads. So from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., ang southbound and northbound side roads are intended for city-bound vehicles,” he told reporters.

It was Councilor David Tumulak, who sits as the chairman on public order and safety committee, who suggested about the new traffic scheme.

Tumulak, who is residing in the south district, has also experienced the monstrous traffic, which compelled him to take the initiative to come up with a measure that would help ease the current traffic flow.

“To pave way sa tanang mga students, workers nga dili sila ma-late sa ilahang mga klase and trabaho,” he said.

But Ouano said when they opened the side roads recently, the traffic flow is not as horrendous as before.

Last Sunday at 10:30 a.m., both the northbound and southbound side roads were opened to traffic after WT Construction Inc., the contractor of the project, was done with the road concreting.

But Ouano said that from 8 a.m. onwards, both side roads will be utilized by northbound and southbound vehicles.

The southbound side road is intended for vehicles heading to southern part of Cebu and the northbound lane is for city-bound vehicles.

“Wala ra’y changes sa traffic scheme after 8 a.m. kay nakita man nato nga mas daghan ang volume sa sakyanan inig buntag,” he said.

Tumulak has also observed that after peak hours, the flow of traffic will be back to normal.  That is why he asked the motorists and commuters to extend their patience.

“Naa lang sa 25 percent ang vehicles pabalik sa south and 75 percent vehicles going towards the city. So angayan nga atong giusab,” he said.

Aside from the new traffic scheme, there were at least 16 traffic aides deployed in the depressed areas to man the traffic flow.

The CCTO, along with Tumulak, will continue monitor the traffic in the south district every now and then so that they can implement measures, if necessary. (FREEMAN)