ILOILO City – Anticipate heavy vehicular congestion on city streets when classes open on Monday.
But the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) of the city government assured that around 350 personnel will make sure traffic flows continuously.
They include traffic auxiliaries, police auxiliaries, and personnel from the Special Services Unit and the Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures, said PSTMO head Jeck Conlu.
They will give particular attention to streets and roads leading to schools.
“Nagapangayo gid kita sang pag-intindi sang aton mga motorists nga by Monday expect gid nga ang aton traffic situation indi normal. May mga traffic jams gid nga matabo,” said Conlu.
The PSTMO has started preparing for the opening of classes two weeks ago.
It has intensified operations against traffic rule violators, illegal parking and obstructions along routes to schools, Conlu said.
In addition, the PSTMO will closely watch areas where road repair/rehabilitation projects are ongoing – where heavy vehicular congestion should be expected – he stressed.
Such areas include Luna Street in La Paz district, Ramon Avanceña Street in Arevalo and General Luna in City Proper.
Conlu acknowledged that the PSTMO may not be able to cover all city streets due to insufficient number of personnel.
“Gina-set lang namon ang aton priorities kay kulang kita sa mga tawo sa ground,” he said.
The PSTMO official is also wary of the possible shortage of public utility vehicles, especially jeepneys.
Conlu has observed that some jeepney drivers tend to cut their trips short and take time off early, especially during heavy rain.
The result? An overwhelming number of passengers competing for rides, with only a few public utility vehicles making rounds, especially during rush hour, he said.
Conlu vowed to speak with local transport groups regarding this concern.
“Maistorya ako sa mga associations sang jeepney [drivers and operators] nga indi anay sila mag-untat sa pagbiyahe, especially sa amo na nga inoras, kay kadamo sang mga pasahero,” said Conlu.
The PSTMO head also appealed to jeepney associations not to hold any transport strike this week.
“Indi lang tani anay. Ma-istorya kami kag ululopod kami sa pag-address sang mga challenges sa karsada,” Conlu said.
It was learned that the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA) was planning to hold a transport strike on Monday but decided to cancel it.
Majority of their members declined to participate. They have school-aged children who may not be able to go to school without jeepneys, according to ICLAJODA president Reymund Parcon.
Transport groups asked the local government to clear roads of obstructions to prevent delays in the traffic flow amid ongoing road repair/rehabilitation work./PN
