By MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – Alarmed by the traffic congestion across Iloilo City, a proposed ordinance is being pushed that would make Traffic Impact Assessments (TIAs) and adequate parking spaces mandatory for all major construction and development projects.
The policy would ensure that traffic and parking concerns are addressed at the design stage rather than after problems already exist, said Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna, who chairs the City Council’s transportation committee.
“Are these establishments ready to accommodate mga salakyan nga ma-park? Otherwise, ang dalan ta naman ang ila gamiton. Kita tanan ang nagaantos,” he stressed.
He pointed to hospitals and commercial buildings as glaring examples of poor planning.
“Imagine bala, hundreds of rooms pero duha lang ka floors ang parking. Te diin na sila tanan ma-park? Kundi sa aton dalan. Indi ini maayo nga practice. Dapat sa design pa lang, klaro na ang allocation sang parking space,” Cabaluna said.
TIAs would allow the city to demand adjustments — such as adding more parking floors or lay-bys for drop-offs — instead of reacting after congestion worsens.
Cabaluna cited the case of the Iloilo Terminal Market redevelopment, where the TIA conducted by SM Prime Holdings revealed that nearby roads could not support two-way traffic.
“Kun may traffic impact submitted, indi lang nga compliance. Dapat ginalantaw gid — ano ang impact, may ara bala sila parking, kag preparado bala ang aton dalanon?” he explained.
Currently, only two of the six major projects reviewed by the City Council recently had TIAs, exposing what Cabaluna described as a glaring policy gap.
“Kadamo sang development sa siyudad, masami once nga mahuman na, amo pa lang pag-address naton sang epekto. Dira ta nakakita nga indi gid siya gina-require, kag amo na ang gap nga dapat tapuson naton,” he said.
He also warned that without proactive measures, traffic choke points — already identified at 22 by the Traffic Technical Management Office — could multiply.
The ordinance, Cabaluna clarified, would apply even to government-led projects./PN
