Public urged to use public transport amid holiday rush

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Motorists and commuters are encouraged to use public transportation instead of private vehicles to ease severe road congestion caused by record traffic volumes during the holiday rush, the Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) said.

TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the surge in private vehicles has strained available parking areas, particularly on-road parking, and has complicated the loading and unloading of public utility vehicles.

“We encourage that when you go to the city, it is better for you to use our public utility vehicles.
It is a better system so we can reduce the number of vehicles traversing our roads,” Garbanzos said in an interview on Thursday, Dec. 18.

He warned that heavier traffic also results in intensified enforcement operations, which may inconvenience motorists.

From Friday, Dec. 19, through the weekend, Garbanzos said the TTMO expects even higher vehicle volumes entering the city.

He identified the Iloilo Diversion Road, or the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Avenue, as among the areas likely to experience bumper-to-bumper traffic, noting that it serves as a major convergence point and hosts numerous commercial establishments along the national highway.

To improve traffic flow along the highway’s stretch, Garbanzos said the TTMO has implemented new traffic schemes, particularly at U-turn slots that previously caused slowdowns.

Devices have been installed to ensure that only vehicles intending to make U-turns occupy the designated lanes, he added.

The TTMO chief also appealed to motorists to practice defensive driving, stressing the importance of anticipating potential hazards, maintaining awareness, and making safe decisions beyond simply following traffic rules.

He further reminded motorists to respect traffic aides on the ground and to comply with instructions issued to maintain the smooth flow of vehicles.

Garbanzos also clarified that even in the absence of a specific ordinance, the TTMO is authorized to implement rerouting and traffic diversion measures as part of its management function.

“We cannot wait to ask the City Council to have an immediate session for the management that we will implement. It is part of our discretion or management function of our office,” he explained.