Solon to discuss Metro Cebu’s traffic problem

THE House of Representatives transportation committee headed by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento will meet with businessmen, including transport industry stakeholders, today at the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino Inc. in Lapu-Lapu City for a public hearing.

“We are here to find out if Cebu would be included in the emergency powers of the President (Rodrigo Duterte) to address the problem on traffic,” Sarmiento told Cebu Daily News.

“We will hear people’s opinions on what will be the best possible solution to address the traffic here,” Sarmiento said.

He said they would suggest establishing dedicated truck lanes and color coding on vehicles to address traffic during the public hearing.

The result of the internet-based road users survey conducted by Waze showed that Cebu is the worst city to drive in.

Yesterday, Sarmiento and the rest of the committee also had a three-hour meeting with Cebu Ports Authority General Manager Edmund Tan and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to discuss the traffic situation in Metro Cebu.

Other members of the committee include Representatives Edgar Mary Sarmiento of Samar first district, Gavini Pancho of Bulacan, Henry Ong of Leyte and Mark Aeron Sambar of PBA party-list.

Sarmiento said that based on his assessment, Cebu has narrow roads that result in bumper to bumper traffic.

For him, enforcement of traffic rules and regulations and discipline among drivers are needed to solve the traffic problem. “Nararamdaman namin, if di aasikasuhin (Cebu) then darating ang sitwasyon na hinaharap ng Metro Manila,” he said.