Heavy traffic in Lapu, Mandaue despite holiday

Today may be the Chinese New Year celebration, but the holiday isn’t expected to reduce traffic volume in Metro Cebu.

Glenn Antigua, operations chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), said they expect the volume of vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu City to double at UN Avenue in today’s start of the Mandaue-Mactan bridge repairs.

This came as Mandaue City schools officials said they need a survey to determine whether or not to send their students home earlier to avoid the congestion caused by the lifting of the truck ban.

Antigua said vehicles from UN Avenue going to Cebu City or southern Cebu were slowly moving.

He said they will assign 10 traffic enforcers in UN Avenue, four of whom will be at the intersection.

“We will regulate trucks coming in this avenue because we really expect that tomorrow, UN Avenue will be congested,” Antigua said.

Dr. Arden Monisit, Mandaue City Schools Division superintendent, said they need to hear the sentiments of the teachers, students and parents and a written request from the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry to declare an early dismissal of classes.

“Teachers need to meet the eight hours required work in a day while class recitations should be for 6 hours,” Arden told Cebu Daily News.

The suggestion will be forwarded to Regional Director Dr. Juliet Jeruta of the Department of Education (DepEd-7) for resolution.

Jun Veliganio, Mandaue City federation president for Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), said it’s good to have an early class dismissal but the problem is having to meet the required number of school days.

Since February 6, the Mandaue City Schools Division started their make up classes for five Saturdays after the week-long suspension of classes due to the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) from January 24–31.

Make up classes will end early March. There are 201 school days for school year 2015 to 2016. End of classes will be on April 1.

Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district called for the construction of a north coastal road to ease the traffic congestion in Mandaue City.

The proposed North Coastal Road will start from the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City and pass through Mandaue City through the reclamation area and onwards to Consolacion town.