Iloilo City Council rejects two-way traffic near markets

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The City Council’s Committee on Transportation has rejected the proposed two-way traffic scheme around the redeveloped Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets, citing its potential to worsen congestion on narrow surrounding roads.

Committee chairperson Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna said a one-way traffic flow would ensure smoother vehicular movement, better enforcement, and safer conditions for pedestrians while aligning with the city’s long-term mobility goals.

“If it is two-way, you can go directly because that is the nearest, but when it causes traffic in certain junctions, it’s better to go around a rotonda because it makes travel faster and more seamless,” Cabaluna said.

He described the recommendation by the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (OCPDC) to retain the one-way scheme as “well-founded and technically sound.”

Cabaluna added that the OCPDC’s proposed circulation balances mobility, safety, and accessibility in the redeveloped market areas.

He cited the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) conducted by SM Prime Holdings Inc. and a comparative evaluation by the OCPDC, which both concluded that a two-way flow would result in congestion, operational issues, and safety risks due to narrow roads and high pedestrian traffic.

Once the markets open to the public on October 30, a one-way, two-lane traffic scheme will be implemented along De Leon, Fuentes, Mabini, and Rizal Streets around the Iloilo Terminal Market (Super).

However, Guanco Street, adjacent to the Iloilo Central Market, will retain its two-way traffic flow to ensure access for vendors, delivery trucks, and public utility vehicles.

The OCPDC said Guanco Street could accommodate two-way movement if strict parking rules, designated loading zones, and waiting areas are enforced.

Plans also call for the integration of loading and unloading bays, as well as waiting zones for PUVs and slow-moving vehicles, to streamline traffic operations.

The committee urged the city government to modify pedestrian access points and ramps at the Terminal Market to meet accessibility standards.

It also recommended reviewing the existing pay-parking ordinance to align it with the updated traffic layout, conducting a trial run to assess traffic behavior and safety, and requiring TIAs for future developments near the markets.

Cabaluna said a coordinated trial run would help the city evaluate vehicular flow, pedestrian safety, and delivery logistics before the full implementation.

The Traffic and Transport Management Office had earlier proposed a two-way traffic system to improve accessibility for market-goers and delivery trucks.

However, the committee cited concerns over road space limitations, turning radii, and enforcement challenges if the two-way setup were enforced.

Consultations with vendors and nearby businesses revealed opposition to the two-way scheme, citing possible delivery disruptions, loss of parking, and increased pedestrian hazards.

An on-site inspection by the committee confirmed that narrow road geometry and steep ramps around the Terminal Market would hinder maneuverability for delivery vehicles.