PJ Garcia mulls traffic body

CEBU, Philippines —  Deputy House Speaker and Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John “PJ” Garcia wants a traffic body in Cebu similar to the Metro Manila Development Authority to oversee all traffic concerns of the cities and municipalities of the province.

Garcia said he will soon file a bill in Congress for the creation of the traffic body. 

“The advantage of having this body would be consistency in policy, monitoring and enforcement. Traffic does not respect boundaries. In fact, traffic management in one LGU affects other LGUs. So there should be a body that sees the big picture and with the power to manage traffic accordingly,” he told reporters via text message.

Right now, Garcia said he is still studying the framework of the MMDA and nuancing it to fit the specific situation of Cebu. He will also be consulting the rest of the congressmen of Cebu’s other districts for the drafting of the bill.

He assured that this board will not infringe on the jurisdiction of municipal and city local government units as they will only oversee national roads.

“This will be limited to national roads. There is no intention to strip traffic management boards of their power to regulate traffic in local roads,” Garcia said.

“Section 33 of the Local Government Code encourages inter-LGU cooperation on matters like delivery of services. This bill would provide legislative support,” he added.

Last year, a resolution sponsored by 6th District Board Member Glenn Soco was approved by the Provincial Board declaring a traffic crisis in the Metropolitan Cebu area.

Following this, the Provincial Board approved on second and final reading an ordinance creating the Traffic Management Board of Cebu (TMBC).

“I am grateful to the board for now giving the traffic management board the needed legislative framework with which we may be able to lay down policies, rules and regulations on all national roads,” said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in response to the measure.

The governor said the board will consist of departments and offices related to the implementation of traffic policies.

These include the Land Transport Franchise Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Highway Patrol Group and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

She clarified that mayors will be included only in the advisory council.

“We understand that each mayor has his or her own concern over his or her own territorial jurisdiction but there has to be a body that oversees the crisis above each individual strategy of each individual LGU,” the governor explained.  FPL (FREEMAN)