DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A city councilor here is planning to re-route public utility jeepneys to south bound area of the city in order to ease the traffic congestion.
Councilor Conrado Baluran, chairperson of Committee on Transportation and Communication, said in an interview that PUJs passing Matina crossing should take the Matina Aplaya route then pass through Davao City Overland Transport Terminal while PUJs coming from Calinan area might take the route in Barangay Ula passing through Catalunan Grande down to Maa road and vice versa.
Baluran said that re-routing would lessen the traffic congestion. Apart from re-routing, Baluran said they already started to create road shortcuts for private vehicles.
“For example, the route in Catalunan Pequeño should pass through Holy Cross Mintal then down to Lonbisco factory in Bangkal to avoid passing the Ulas road,” he said.
As for the North bound area, Baluran said that traffic in the northern part was attributed to the trailer trucks parking along the roads.
“I am planning to make a request for the barangay captains to mandate their barangay police to apprehend the trailer truck owners,” he said.
Double-decker vehicles
Baluran said that the city also plans to use double-decker vehicles within the city streets. He, however, said that they still want to retain jeepneys too.
“Maybe we will buy (the double-deckers) but this is still a long-range plan,” he said.
In a privilege speech, Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang appealed to prioritize the traffic congestion projects in 2017.
Dayanghirang urged that aside from re-routing, the city should consider on limiting the purchase of vehicles in every family or individual.
“If your requirements are one to two vehicles then don’t buy more than two,” he said.
He also suggested that vehicles that don’t pass on the smoke belching tests should be out in the city streets.
“Aside from that, anybody that goes beyond the government property for roads– either city of national roads– should be immediately removed or the permit should be cancelled especially those who are obstructing traffic,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
