Bacolod eyes new body to enforce traffic master plan

BACOLOD City – The city government here will form a policy-making body for the implementation of the local traffic master plan crafted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said this move will strengthen the city’s traffic management system.

“We will create a new policy-making body that can monitor the function and performance of traffic enforcers,” the mayor added.

Last month, the MMDA chairman Danilo Lim turned over two volumes of the traffic master plan intended to improve the city’s traffic system.

“We are now in the process of reviewing, studying the recommendations to find out what we can afford for now, and we will implement it first,” said Leonardia.

The mayor added that one of the priorities of this project is to improve the competence of the traffic enforcers. They will need further training under MMDA, he said. 

He said noted that one recommendation is the establishment of a new and modern traffic signalization system that can “talk to each other.”

In Bacolod, five out of 36 intersections have been signalized in 2018, with the rest to be installed in the remaining 31 intersections by 2020.

Such system includes traffic lights for motorists and pedestrians, pavement markings and signage, closed-circuit television monitors, and a command center.

Another recommendation is the passage of an ordinance increasing the fines against traffic violators as well as education and training, and capacity-building for Bacolod Traffic Authority Office enforcers.

Leonardia said that commissioning a traffic master plan could cost millions if done by private groups, but MMDA is assisting Bacolod for free.

“Given the complexities of a growing city, traffic becomes an inevitable epidemic, but in spite of this, we will still try everything possible to have it well-managed,” the mayor added. (With a report from PNA/PN)

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