ILOILO City – With over a hundred public schools reopening here today, June 16, Iloilo City’s traffic authorities have mobilized a full-force deployment of personnel and resources to avert gridlock in critical areas.
Retired police colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, head of the Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (ICTTMO), said the agency is on high alert to manage moderate to heavy traffic expected in school zones, major roads, and transport terminals as thousands of students return to campus for School Year 2025–2026.
“Strategic areas with high vehicle and student activity will be manned as early as dawn. We want to make sure the opening of classes won’t paralyze traffic,” Garbanzos said.
To accommodate the increased demand for public transport, ICTTMO has coordinated with jeepney and UV Express cooperatives to dispatch additional units during peak hours.
The city government will also continue to enforce its car pass system for first-town jeepneys entering Iloilo City — a scheme intended to regulate vehicle volume and maintain order at terminal chokepoints.
Aside from schools, traffic enforcers will also be stationed at major transport hubs where heavy foot traffic is anticipated, particularly from inbound passengers traveling from nearby towns and provinces.
“We urge motorists to plan ahead, strictly follow traffic rules, and drive defensively. Delays are expected, but cooperation will go a long way in keeping the roads safe and manageable,” Garbanzos added.
City officials are also advising the public to adjust travel schedules and avoid non-essential trips during rush hours to ease congestion./PN
