Traffic remained moderate during the opening of classes of most private schools and universities in Cebu City yesterday morning.
Joy Tumulak, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) operations chief, said there were only a few streets where traffic flow was slow-moving.
In Nasipit, Talamban, Tumulak said there were several culverts and heavy equipment that were left along the road where a drainage project is being implemented.
“Traffic movement was slow here because of the culverts and equipment so Citom personnel had to pull them out and we placed them at the side. By then, traffic returned to normal,” he said.
A minor accident involving a motorcycle and a private car also caused some congestion along the Banilad-Talamban road near the office of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF).
A truck conked out at S. Osmeña road corner T. Padilla extension. Citom sent a truck to tow the vehicle away.
Line problem
Tumulak said he personally drove around the city from south, central to north from 6 am to 8 am. “I drove the car myself and I wasn’t locked in traffic,” he said.
But at 10 a.m., there was a problem with the traffic lights, causing a gridlock at the crossing of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and Gen. Maxilom Ave.
Citom aide Bryan Rollo said there was a line problem experienced with the service provider. Traffic personnel had to regulate traffic in the area.
Tumulak said Citom plans to implement a new traffic scheme in the Miller area near the intersection of N. Bacalso Ave. and Tres de Abril St. which is currently a one-way street from downtown Cebu City going further south.
Traffic management
Citom plans to reverse the flow every morning form 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. since most of the traffic volume is from the south going to downtown Cebu City.
Tumulak said they’re still preparing the traffic signages before they implement the scheme.
In a meeting with Citom personnel, Cebu City Mayor Rama said even office staff need to undergo traffic management training.
Tumulak said if they don’t undergo training they will be reassigned someplace else.