Traffic management group to be revived

A plan to revive the Presidential Task Force on Traffic Management and Improvement (Traffim) is now being considered to improve the traffic situation in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces.

This was disclosed by Eduard Flores, deputy chief of Operation of the Traffic Operations Center of the Metropolitan Manila Develpment Authority, who said that it was President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself from proposed the idea.

A memorandum was issued by the President recently directing the MMDA, Department of Transportation and Communication and the Land Transportation Office to find solutions for the existing traffic problems.

The order also directed the three agencies to review the existing traffic rules and regulations. "The President wants these government agencies to study which traffic laws should be retained," Flores said.

Traffim was created in 1997 by former President Fidel Ramos as an over-all traffic coordinating body that will formulate measures and recommend solutions to the Metro Mayors Council (MMC) for proper legislative actions.

The MMDA serves as the lead agency in traffic management with the DOTC, LTO, Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Public Works and Highways and Philippine Motor Association as members.

Traffim was responsible for the passage of various traffic resolutions including the guidelines on road works in Metro Manila as well as traffic accidents and violations of armored vehicles.

Flores said that the PMA and MMDA have discussed plans to come up with a Road Users’ Manual, an effective traffic education tool for motorists who lack knowledge on existing traffic rules and regulations.

He added that Traffim’s scope would also go outside of Metro Manila to its neighboring provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan and Rizal.