Provincial Board plans to create traffic council

CEBU, Philippines — A proposed ordinance creating an inter-agency council for traffic operations in Cebu Province will undergo its first reading today.

This, after Jonathan “Joy” Tumulak, the province’s focal person on traffic management, joined the members of the Provincial Board (PB) in a caucus exactly a week ago.

He said that PB Member Edsel Galeos will champion an ordinance which aims to address traffic woes in the areas under the provincial government.

The details of the draft ordinance are yet to be made public.

In an earlier interview, Tumulak emphasized the importance of coordination among the neighboring local government units in managing daily traffic operations.

He said that the province’s traffic condition will only worsen if no actions will be done to address it today.

“Ang problema sa traffic dili masulbad sa usa ka siyudad, sa usa ka lungsod.  Masulbad ang traffic kung adunay close coordination (of local government units),” he said.

Earlier this month, Tumulak has recommended the release of traffic advisories through the Provincial Information Office (PIO) and to relay the need for assistance and traffic management to concerned offices, such as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

This measure was demonstrated during the Holy Week season, especially in the Southern portion of the province.

The Capitol has also conducted a series of training to traffic managers, specifically on traffic law enforcement, traffic engineering and road safety audit.

He added that he wants traffic enforcers to work in unison from the signs they use when directing traffic to the road signs placed.

According to the 2017 data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that Tumulak shared, there are 574,819 motor vehicles in Cebu Province and it is expected to increase to at least 800,000 by the end of this year. (FREEMAN)