Almost a hundred public utility and private vehicles were apprehended by traffic enforcers during first day of implementation of the No Stopping Zone in UN Avenue, Mandaue City on Tuesday.
Most of the drivers were surprised of the apprehension and even commuters waiting for a ride along the stretch of UN Avenue were complaining of the inconvenience brought about by the new traffic scheme as they were referred by traffic enforcers to the designated loading and unloading area at the Pacific Mall PUJ Terminal and at corner DM Cortes and UN Avenue.
“Dili na ta kinahanglan nga mopahimangno nila kay existing naman nang no stopping zone ang UN Avenue ug wala sab ta magbutang diha og loading and unloading area. Wala lang ta manakop sa una pero karon kay kinahanglan naman (There is no need for us to remind them since UN Avenue has long been a no stopping zone and also we don’t assign a loading and unloading area there. We just didn’t make an apprehension before but now we need to…),” said Glenn Antigua, chief of operations of Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM).
Antigua said they are now apprehending vehicles to address traffic congestion along UN Avenue. They are also warning the pedestrians against crossing the center island as the no jaywalking zone is already implemented at UN Avenue. Violators will be fined P50 starting next week when TEAM already installed markings for a junction box and warning signs for no jay walking.
Mario Pepito, a PUJ driver plying the Ayala, Cebu City and Mandaue route, was surprised about the immediate implementation of the No Stopping Zone.
“Kalit-kalit man nang ilang paagi, wala may warning (The abrupt implementation came without warning),” he said.
Hazel Mae Tanggapan, a commuter, said the change of loading area was an inconvenience for her part. “Hassle kaayo kay layo kaayo og lakawan una pa ta makasakay (It’s too much hassle as I have to walk far before I could get a ride),” she said.
Based on Antigua’s assessment, the traffic flow in UN Avenue including DM Cortes street was free flowing and has helped decongest all other connecting streets except for the peak hours which had a little congestion.
From 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday, there were 84 PUVs and private vehicles apprehended along UN Avenue and near the corner of DM Cortes street, which was formerly the drop-off and pick-up point of PUJs with Mandaue-Cebu City route and Lapu-Lapu-Mandaue route.