Just a reminder about the sudden “no left turn” policy enforced along the Banilad-Talamban corridor that started last Monday and paused on Thursday: It was enforced with no consultation and advance warning whatsoever.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama claims full authorship of this instant solution.
He isn’t ducking responsibility. Now if only he stops boasting that this was the only remedy at hand.
As expected, motorists and commuters fumed over the sudden change that forced vehicles to take long detours and awkward U-turns with few traffic enforcers around to explain what was going on.
The curses could be heard all the way from Mandaue City and the hills of Talamban.
This one-man solution is the mayor’s style of addressing big problems, but not, unfortunately, his expertise.
He shouldn’t be alone in thinking of answers.
There’s an entire traffic department – not just an ad hoc office anymore – working full time on the city’s urban road woes – the Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations Management (Citom).
Was this experiment discussed or mapped out by Citom beforehand?
Not likely. Joy Tumulak, Citom traffic operations chief, said the mayor called him up Sunday evening to inform him on the game plan.
Of what use are Citom board meetings that are supposed to draw out the collective wisdom of the traffic police, Land Transportation Office, DOTC, DPWH City Hall personnel and related offices, if they have to rely on the mayor to figure out a spot solution? Why think that notice to the public to prepare for major rerouting is optional?
We haven’t heard Citom executive director Raffy Yap discuss the merits and contingencies of this bold change. Like the mayor, he’s figuring it out on a trial and error basis now that the boss is wearing an orange traffic vest.
Unfortunately, there’s no “magic bullet” to fix the traffic flow at the BanTal corridor. The roads have been overtaken by an explosion of vehicles and undisciplined drivers.
Complaints of traffic congestion have been building up in the past 20 years or more. Three flyovers later, it’s still getting worse. The flyovers were band-aid measures that just delayed a boil that has burst out with pus which Mayor Rama describes as a “disaster”.
What actual infrastructure has been improved to address the problem? Other than the delayed widening of Escario Street, no roads were expanded by the Department of Public Works and Highways. We lost time being placated by two-lane flyovers in four-lane roads.
We all support road widening that is well planned.
So does the mayor.
But if he alone decides when and where to change the flow of traffic, let’s give him the whistle and booklet of blue citation tickets.
This is a full-time job if he wants it.