TACLOBAN CITY- The controversial traffic scheme now enforced across the main downtown streets of the city will be reviewed by some traffic management experts. This was disclosed by Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin who said that the city government will be seeking assistance from traffic experts from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and from the University of the Philippines (UP). The traffic management experts are expected to arrive in the city next week to study the worsening traffic situation in Tacloban’s downtown area. The one-way traffic scheme was enforced in the city on June 1 as part of the city government’s experiment to end the traffic woes in the city’s downtown area. The traffic scheme, supposed to end by this month but was extended indefinitely, was enforced through an executive order issued by former Mayor Alfred Romualdez. The rerouting scheme was said to have been recommended to the former city mayor by the Traffic Operations Management Enforcement Coordinating Office (Tomeco). “What is important now, based on the expert recommendation, is to answer, as to what the things are needed. Do we need traffic signs, traffic lights or do we need more trained Tomeco personnel” Yaokasin said. “The interest of the majority should be considered and that the good of all should prevail,” he added. Motorcab-for-hire (MCH) drivers already sent a manifesto to the city council stating their recommendations such as color coding of private vehicles, prohibition of double parking and the ouster of some Tomeco officials. Yaokasin said they will study if these proposals will contribute to ease traffic congestion together with the assessment of the invited traffic experts. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
