DISCIPLINE ZONE: 24-hour traffic enforcement on Diversion Road

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

The Iloilo City government will designate as the first “Traffic Discipline Zone” the 14-kilometer stretch of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue from Brgy. San Rafael in Mandurriao district to Ungka Iloilo Terminal and General Services Inc. in Jaro district.

According to Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head Jeck Conlu, the plan is to enforce a 24-hour traffic discipline zone in the area where local ordinances and national road laws will be strictly implemented.

“By January 2020, nagapreparar kami nga ang Benigno Aquino Avenue himuon naton nga ‘Traffic Discipline Zone’ buot silingon ang tanan nga malabay sa Diversion road masunod gid sang tanan nga layi or mga ordinansa sa kalsada indi lang ang aton local ordance kundi pati ang aton National Traffic Code,” he said in a phone interview.

Conlu said teams from the PSTMO, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will be deployed in the area to strictly enforce laws on speed limit, anti-modified mufflers, proper loading and unloading and other road and traffic regulations.

Through this initiative, Conlu said they hope that motorists and commuters will be disciplined and traffic violations will be avoided.

“Composite ni nga order sa aton ni Mayor Jerry Treñas nga ubrahon naton. Maga-deploy kita sang madamo nga tawo dira nga area para maenad aton motorists nga magsunod sa aton layi even correct nga pagsakay and naog sang aton pasahero i-implement na naton dira,” he furthered.
Conlu said they hope to sustain the program and expand it to other areas in the city.

“Problema namon kinanglan dugang personnel but hopefully maimplement by January. We will pilot it for one to three months and during the first months, indi ta anay manakop, hambalan lang anay naton ang driver kong ano violations nila then ma-implement na,” he said.

Citing the observations of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel during their visit to the city, Conlu said severe traffic congestions only occur during rush hours.

But there is still a need to strictly enforce road ordinances and discipline on motorists.

“Traffic during rush hours mostly 30 minutes to one hour then ga-subside. Ang MMDA gani naghambal sa aton nga kulang sa aton ang pag-push strict enforcement and implementation sang ordinance and discipline sa mga drivers,” he said.

The MMDA conducted a three-day training to enhance the skills and knowledge of 100 traffic officers in the city.