BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – National roads and major thoroughfares in this city and the rest of Western Visayas have been widened from two to four lanes purportedly to cater to more vehicular traffic.
Despite higher road capacity, congestion remained since still more people buy cars due to the lack of a mass transportation system in the city and other areas of the region.
Likewise, the improved quality of roads also fostered a high-speed environment, which contributed to the increasing rate of road crash deaths, the Regional Development Council (RDC-6) observed.
Statistics show that more people are killed on the road, rising from six to seven deaths per 100,000 population in 2021, the council said.
As transportation demand rises, the council said that greenhouse gas emissions are also expected to increase. This will lead to the quality of air and water within the desirable levels.
“The lack of effective and efficient mass transportation systems, especially in urban areas, results in higher private car use and ownership which in turn has congested roads and increased emissions that can adversely affect air quality,” the council said.
Jeck Conlu, Iloilo City’s Public Transport Management Office (PSTMO) head, has called on motorists to always observe road courtesy and safe defensive driving.
“PSTMO is reminding drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians. Even when the pedestrian traffic light already says stop, you should give way to a person who was caught in the middle of the crosswalk,” said Conlu.
He added: “It will only take a couple more seconds of your time. We should think of others first and not let the steering wheel set them off on power trips.”
In a post on Facebook, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 said it participated in the knowledge-sharing session on the road safety situation in Western Visayas on Monday, April 8.
A team from the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture (RIMCu) of Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City visited Iloilo City to proposed road infrastructure development and initiatives to ensure road safety.
RIMCu endeavors to broaden awareness regarding the ongoing road infrastructure development in key cities in the country.
During the knowledge-sharing session, Engr. Ray Adrian C. Macalalag of NEDA-6 shared the road crash statistics in Western Visayas and recommendations for enhanced road safety.
The PSTMO, on the other hand, presented proactive measures and best practices in making the city roads and pedestrians safe in the city. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) also discussed how road safety standards are incorporated into ongoing and proposed road projects./PN