DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The committee chairperson for transportation and communication Councilor Conrado Baluran plans to amend the truck ban to help ease the traffic congestion in the city.
Baluran said they will extend an additional one hour from the current ordinance that prohibits trucks to enter the city from 4 am to 8 am and 5 pm to 8 pm starting from Panacan for the north side and Toril in the south.
He said that instead of 8AM and 8PM, they would extend it to 9AM and 9PM.
“The six-wheelers and above cannot enter the city on those hours so that there will be a free-flow of transportation here,” he said.
During truck ban, Baluran said that instead of Panacan, trucks can only reach up Bunawan area while in the south; trucks can still reach Toril area, then coming from Buda, trucks can reach up to Catalunan proper.
Baluran said so far, no trucks or company were apprehended for violating the ordinance.
“We will now be more strict in implementing the ordinance,” he assured.
Those who will be caught violating the truck ban will pay a penalty of P5,000.
Traffic congestion
Aside from truck ban, Baluran said another way to ease traffic congestion in the city is to create the 34-km bypass roads.
Baluran reported that a bypass road requested by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio was approved by the national government.
The bypass road will start at Panabo City going to Mudiang, and then Waan to Tacunan going to Mintal then will end at Marapangi, Toril.
“Based from the assessment of the City planning office and the DPWH, flyover is not the solution but alternate routes,” he said.
But, Baluran clarified that flyover projects in Matina Crossing and Toril area are not scrapped. He said the projects are not yet the priority.
By April or May, the city will open the “mini-subdivision road” in the south part of the city that will start at Baliok, Toril, to Puan straight to Greenhills Subdivison, then to Catalunan Pequeño.
Aside from the mini subdivision road, Baluran shared that coastal road in the city are now under construction worth P27billion.
“The Department of Public Works and Highways already gave P1.5billion to buy the materials,” he said.
Baluran said the coastal road will start at Bago Aplaya to Matina Aplaya then to Bolton Isla, and then a new coastal bridge will be built to cross -coastal to Quimpo Boulevard then end at Roxas Boulevard.
The Councilor asked City Planning, City Transportation and Management Office and City Assessor’s Offices to undergo inventory on government roads that are currently being occupied by the Informal settlers.
He said informal settlers that occupy government roads should be relocated. (davaotoday.com)
