The domino effect of the traffic chaos

Once again, the proposed Ordinance No. 42-2011 crafted by the Team Board and filed by City Councilor Elstone Dabon, was discussed by the Council of Elders in their meeting. To remind readers, the proposed measure is to finalize the more than 2-months “dry run” for “exclusive” privilege to Mactan-Cebu City private motorists turning left at Plaridel Street junction down to Ouano(?) Avenue passing by CICC to Cebu City, and vice versa.

 Mind you, the Mactan-Mandaue-Cebu City route for PUJs and other motorists – not the VIPs and private motorists – from Mactan, and back ply the old bridge via Ariston Cortes Avenue route up to the Maguikay overpass junction, and then left turn towards M.C. Briones highway. Now, their route is to turn left towards M.H. del Pilar Street along the Mandaue Cemetery which, incidentally is made a one-way street just to accommodate the Mactan PUJs mostly.

 “Exclusivity” to the UN Avenue- Plaridel route is accorded to the Cebu City private motorists and VIPs who often travel by air through the Mactan International Airport, to the detriment and consternation of adversely affected Mandauehanons, deprived from using the Plaridel Street through Cansaga Bay bridge, and vice-versa.

 For one, Mandaue motorists residing in Alang-alang and Estancia along Plaridel Street going home can not execute Left Turn because the entire stretch is marked by a series of“No Left Turns” going north. From Cansaga Bay to Mactan, there is also No Left Turn.

 For another, travelers from Mactan can not make a Left Turn along Plaridel Street, say, in going to Umapad and Opao because of “No Left Turns” up to Mabini street corner going to Looc.

 Again, as pointed out by Engr. Jimmy Vasquez, Colina Street near the road corner of St. Louis School of Mandaue in Estancia passing by the triangular lot owned by the City, was also experimented as No Left Turn for 24 hours from the M.C. Briones Highway coming southward.

 A member of the Council also pointed out an oddity of No Left Turn at corner Tabok Road – National Highway, at all times. Many wondered how else would Tabok and Tingub motorists and other travelers go to Basak to attend Mass, or go to northward destinations.

 Even former Ctiy Councilor Tex Fortuna whose house is near A. del Rosario corner M.H. del Pilar Street has to follow a circuitous route because that cemetery street is one-way. Others also pointed out that funeral cars from Poo, Tipolo, and Subangdaku can not enter the cemetery street from the south. One even joked that the “dead” would just get down from the funeral hearse and “walk” to the cemetery with the mourners.

 Still another member cited an interior No Left Turn along Burgos Street corner that also put resident motorists into uncalled for “circles”.

 The question that members of the Council of Elders raised was: Are all these traffic changes with prior sanction or authority of the City Council by means of an ordinance? Or, are these series of “No Left Turns” which a friend remarked that Mandaue City is a City of No Left Turns in the Philippines, initiated by the TEAM Board on its own, or by any one of them, are illegal as usurpation of authority.

 What worsens the situation at the UN Avenue – Plaridel Street junction giving a special privilege of exclusivity to the VIPs, has created chaos, like, the domino effect, bred by the many No Left Turns in Mandaue’s critical areas and have become choke points.

 That suggestion of CITOM’s Jack Jakosalem especially in letting the traffic from Cebu City to turn left at the southern end of S.B. Cabahug Street, near the Sports Complex and City Health building, and cutting through the Church, City Hall, and the St. Joseph’s Academy, etc., is sheer stupidity. Just wait when the Church, or the City Hall observes periodic programs and affairs when S.B. Cabahug Street, for one, is closed to traffic. Chaos would ensue for northern Cebu motorists.