MMDA notes lack of discipline in city roads

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

A TEAM from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) arrived on Tuesday with the goal of helping Iloilo City improve its traffic management system.

According to Neomie Recio, director of MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, they have started the initial survey of the roads in the metro since Monday.

Compared to Manila, Recio said that the city is not totally congested.

“Hindi pa naman ganun ka congested like in Metro Manila na yung volume, mas malaki kesa sa capacity ng kalsada,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.

But Recio observed in their initial survey the lack of discipline in loading and unloading of passengers due to lack of designated loading and unloading areas, she emphasized.

“Wala silang designated na loading and unloading so dapat, kasama doon sa study namin i-dedetermine namin kung saan nga ba ang tamang tawiran ng tao, saan ang tamang babaan at sakayan,” she said.

Recio added that they have observed many obstructions in the metro.

“There are so many obstructions and dapat walang parking kasi may direktiba ang presidente natin to clear off all of public roads to all kinds of obstruction so malaking bagay yun,” she said.

By conducting surveys and evaluating the discipline and behavior of the drivers and road networks city, Recio said they will be recommending a proper traffic management system for the city.

“Makikita namin kung ano yung sitwasyon talaga and makakapagbigay kami ng tamang recommendations on your proper traffic management,” Recio noted.

Fifteen personnel from MMDA have been tapped by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas to conduct evaluation, road inventory survey and traffic movement count in the metro.

The data gathered by the MMDA will be used for the crafting of the Traffic Management Plan of Iloilo City.