Worsening traffic remains Cebu’s biggest problem
It's no brainer that Cebu continues to suffer from the worsening traffic problem. And it will continue to suffer if no concrete solutions are implemented as soon as possible as commuters suffer and businesses incur losses.
Central Visayas Regional Development Council chair Kenneth Cobonpue pointed out traffic remains to be Cebu's biggest problem today.
Much of the reason is that politics is hampering the implementation of the much-needed measures to ease the congestion problem in the metropolitan area.
"Our biggest problem is still traffic. We are at a critical situation. We have underpasses and overpasses but these aren't solving the problem," Cobonpue said in a recent conference in Cebu City.
What Cebu actually needs, he emphasized, is an intelligent traffic system and the creation of the Metro Cebu Traffic Management Council (MCTMC) aside from the long overdue and much-needed efficient mass transit system.
"Our traffic system is old. It's not smart," Cobonpue said.
There are also key areas in Metro Cebu that do not have enough traffic lights that should help manage the traffic.
He also urged government agencies implementing road projects to create traffic management plans to lessen their impact on road congestion.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency had previously proposed that Cebu doesn't need overpasses and underpasses. What it needs to do, JICA said, is to improve its traffic system and make it more efficient.
The RDC chair believes there is a need for local leaders in Cebu to get their acts together and be one in solving traffic, citing "politics" as the main culprit why crucial projects don't get implemented.
Thus, he said the creation of the MCTMC is essential. Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Antonio had said having an "oversight body consisting of relevant government agencies with private/business sector representatives promises to be an institutional mechanism to address traffic management in the metropolitan area in general and alleviate the monstrous traffic congestion that has affected all sectors of society and has even pushed foreign and local investors away from Cebu."
He pointed out the challenge is how to “walk the talk” in translating into coherent policies and guidelines, strict observance of basic laws and regulations, speedy and smooth implementation of infrastructure projects such as roads and the intermodal mass transit systems and inculcating a culture through education and discipline of the drivers, public and many more.
“The Metro Cebu Traffic Management Council to be organized immediately should have its functionality in place, clear accountability spelled out, exercise transparency in all its actions and decisions to be effective and efficient. The ultimate test will be in the safety in the thoroughfares and smooth flow of people, vehicles, goods and services throughout metropolitan Cebu,” Chiu had noted.
Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade had announced the Department of Transportation has laid out an integrated transportation system for Metro Cebu to solve congestion.
The ITS will include a point-to-point (P2P) bus system similar to MyBus, which is already operational in the city; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City; the BRT in three-lane roads; and the LRT lines from Carcar to Danao, and the Mandaue to Airport Line.
Among the ITS components, the P2P bus system is seen as the fastest to implement.
The monorail, meanwhile, will become Mactan Island's transport system, connecting Mactan Cebu International Airport to different hotels and resorts in the tourist island.
To cater to inter-city passengers, the LRT system will become the major component of the ITS.