Radaza: Solving traffic woes a top priority

More traffic lights will be installed in Lapu-Lapu City streets this year to help the city government manage the traffic.

Now that the city is bustling with economic activities, Mayor Paz Radaza said the installation of traffic lights will be prioritized to help address the traffic bottlenecks.

“Pedestrian and vehicular traffic congestions are unavoidable. We are taking serious steps to solve these problems,” Radaza said during her “Report to the Oponganons 2017” yesterday morning at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob.

The city government will put up the traffic lights in 10 junctions and intersections, including the intersection roads of Manuel L. Quezon near MandaueMactan Bridge, and the airport road adjoining the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

The traffic lights will also be mounted along the road of Lapu-Lapu City Hall, the junction roads of Barangay Mactan, Barangay Datag Maribago, Barangay Marigondon, HumayHumay in Barangay Pajo, A. Tumulak Street corner S. Osmeña Street, Basak, and Sangi junction going to Mactan Airbase.

The installation will start in the next few weeks and the first three traffic lights will be fully functional in the next three months, Radaza said.

“While those in the rest of the areas will follow within a period of not more than eight months,” she added.

Radaza said the city government will forego some city projects to pave the way for the installation of these traffic lights.

“Considering the high budgetary requirement, we have been trying to secure funding from the Road Users’ Tax for the traffic lights. We have waited so long. But I hear you. I’ve read your comments on Facebook saying that the absence of our traffic lights is the cause of the worsening traffic congestion,” she said.

The mayor has yet to disclose the city’s budget for the traffic lights.

Radaza earlier asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to help the city government install the traffic lights, but she got no response yet.

FOLLOW TRAFFIC RULES

Moreover, Radaza has appealed to the public to be more responsible citizens by following the traffic rules and regulations.

“Ang imong pagdisiplina sa imong kaugalingon ang mas labing importante. Our traffic lights will be useless if we will not follow traffic rules. That is why I am emphasizing on good citizenship. Each one of us needs to play our role,” Radaza said.

She said more roads will be opened and more existing roads will be widened to address congestions.

The Ylaya-Pagambakan-Marigondon road opening will soon be completed, while the Basak road from corner Aviation road going to Gaisano Grand Mall will be widened after the city government secured approval from the DWPH.

“The project will entail a cost of not less than P100 million for this particular road widening project alone,” she said.

Radaza added that the City Traffic Management Systems (CTMS) has also strengthened the City Towing Ordinance. All illegally parked cars on sidewalks and streets will be clamped and towed away.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and CTMS, in coordination with the police, will discipline the erring drivers.

“I am also looking into those drivers with no license, expired franchise and those colorum tricycles. I will let LTO, together with our CTMS and police, to discipline you,” she said.

Radaza has also attributed the worsening traffic to undisciplined drivers.

“Kay usa kini sa makadugang sa kahuot sa atong mga kadalanan,” she said.

Aside from traffic lights, Radaza also mentioned her tourism, health, law and order, infrastructure, livelihood, social welfare, and education accomplishments.

More than 8,000 city residents, including City Hall workers and department heads; barangay officials; and personnel of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, and the City Fire District witnessed Radaza’s State of the City Address (SOCA).

Students and teachers from various schools were also present.