ILOILO City – This highly-urbanized city of many old and no-longer-expandable streets is constantly bugged by traffic bottlenecks made even more challenging by reckless drivers, undisciplined pedestrians and road obstructions.
As this city further develops, expect the metro traffic to get more complicated.
“We must therefore professionalize our traffic management,” according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
But where should the city government start?
Maintaining order on the thoroughfares is the job of the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO). However, the situation is getting more complex on the streets as the city’s march to progress goes full throttle.
A major restructuring of the PSTMO may be needed to make it more effective and responsive, said Treñas.
The city mayor wants a body focused solely on traffic management. Public safety matters may be addressed by a distinct body.
In its current structure, the PSTMO is “very large” with around 600 personnel doing many things, according to Treñas.
“Public safety management will be different from traffic management. Because nagdaku ang syudad, ang traffic mas mabudlay. Kinanglan ang pagdala ta professionalized,” he stressed.
The city may be needing traffic engineers and other related professionals, the mayor added.
“Plastaron naton sang maayo. We will look at how we can do it,” said Treñas.
PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu is being eyed to head Treñas’ envisioned public safety department.
For traffic management, he is eyeing a former city police director – retired police colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, currently his Executive Assistant for Community Welfare.
Early this year, Treñas commissioned an opinion survey to gauge the public’s sentiments on the city government’s management of the traffic. It got a low net satisfaction rating of -12 percent.
The opinion survey was conducted by Random Access Consultancy Inc. (RACI). It asked 300 18-year-old and above respondents/city residents: “Kontento ka bala sa pagdumala sang traffic sa Iloilo City?”
The result showed that 0.7 percent were “tama ka kuntento” (very contented); 41.3 percent were “kontento” (contented); 4.0 percent “wala opinion” (have no opinion); 41.0 percent were “indi kuntento” (not contented); and 13.0 percent were “diskontento gid” (very not contented).
“The survey results give us an opening to do better. In Iloilo City we do not enjoy pointing fingers. We come up with better services to satisfy our people. We always try to do better. We find ways,’” Treñas said.
Two weeks ago, the PSTMO tapped the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the University of the Philippines – National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) to capacitate traffic enforcers.
“Kalabanan sa aton mga traffic aides mga high school graduate so we need to improve their skills in managing the traffic and enrich their knowledge about local and national laws and other traffic-related measures,” said Conlu.
The MMDA and UP-NCTS will also help the city government establish a “traffic academy”.
The MMDA, a government agency tasked to provide services within Metro Manila related to urban development plans, transport and traffic management, waste disposal, flood and sewer control, health and sanitation, pollution control, and public safety, has its own traffic academy.
“Gusto naton i-professionalize ang aton mga traffic enforcers. If indi man naton 100 percent ma-eliminate ang mga lapses ukon shortcomings sang aton mga traffic enforcers, at least ma-address naton through our traffic academy,” said Conlu./PN
