Traffic discipline zone eyed at Iloilo Central, Terminal markets

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) is pushing to declare the roads around the Iloilo Central (Tienda Mayor) and Terminal (Super) Markets as a traffic discipline zone to tighten road rules once the facilities reopen.

TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the discipline zone will support a proposed two-way traffic scheme along the market corridors to keep traffic orderly.

“Since the market has its own parking area within the building, we will declare the whole area as a no-parking zone,” he said.

“There are roadside parking slots in some establishments, but once the discipline zone is implemented, parking along the road will no longer be allowed,” he added.

He said the plan includes proper traffic signage, lane separators, designated loading and unloading bays, and deployment of TTMO personnel.

Both markets, redeveloped by SM Prime Holdings Inc., will have spacious parking areas for customers and vendors, with a combined total of about 700 parking slots.

Garbanzos warned that a one-way traffic setup could encourage motorists to use road shoulders as illegal parking, worsening congestion.

He said the business sector prefers two-way traffic to support commercial activity once the markets are fully operational.

“I know there are a lot of challenges in instilling discipline in the area, especially when market-goers might use the roadside as parking, so a paradigm shift is needed,” he said.

To prevent congestion and garbage buildup, he said they propose banning bulk drop-offs or “bagsakan areas” in the market surroundings.

Deliveries would instead follow a time-window system to be set by the TTMO and the Local Economic Enterprise Office.

He said a sticker system for delivery vehicles and designated loading and unloading bays is also being considered as part of the traffic plan.

Although the City Council’s Committee on Transportation is leaning toward rejecting the two-way scheme, Garbanzos said the TTMO will abide by the committee’s final recommendation.

The Iloilo Central and Terminal Markets are expected to open in the last quarter of this year.