BACOLOD City – The local traffic authority, formerly known as the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), has been officially renamed the Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD).
This change followed the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) approval of the BTTMD ordinance on its third and final reading last week.
The new ordinance not only changes the name but also strengthens and restructures the agency. This involves creating regular plantilla positions and appropriating funds, thereby amending the previous City Ordinance (CO) No. 315 creating BTAO.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, who chairs the SP’s transportation committee, said the upgrade was necessary due to escalating traffic issues in Bacolod, exacerbated by an increasing number of vehicles and inadequate road infrastructure.
The former BTAO structure was found inadequate to address the growing traffic concerns effectively.
“The capacity of the existing BTAO was restricted, and there was a clamor for more seamless and robust traffic management operations,” said Espino.
He emphasized the need for the authority’s transformation into a department, aiming to enhance its responsiveness and efficiency in managing traffic and transport issues in the city.
The ordinance aligns with Section 76 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 of the Local Government Code of 1991, which allows local government units to design and implement their own structural and staffing patterns, considering service requirements and financial capabilities, subject to guidelines prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Additionally, under Section 454 of RA 7160, the city council has the power to create necessary offices to fulfill the city government’s purposes.
The newly approved ordinance specifies that the BTTMD will include an administrative division, a special services division, and a transportation and planning division.
The head of the new department will be directly under the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), required to have CSC professional eligibility, a relevant four-year degree, five years of relevant experience, 32 hours of relevant training, and not be a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or any other government agency not under the CMO’s direct control.
Previously, the head of BTAO was appointed at the pleasure of the local chief executive through a memorandum, tasked with both ministerial and discretionary functions as outlined in CO No. 230 series of 1999 and 315, series of 2002.
All existing personnel of the former BTAO will be subject to CSC rules and regulations and must meet the qualifications and standards set by the Human Resource Development Office.
Espino believes that a well-developed and efficient city traffic and transport management will significantly enhance public comfort, convenience, safety, and security./PN
