Bacolod City motorists are impatient when it comes to traffic woes. It is quite upsetting to see no sincere solutions presented to solve such simple problems. Allow me to provide some options that can be implemented without the city’s traffic authorities exerting too much effort nor should they affect those seeking public office (it’s especially during election season when those seeking elective office are afraid to offend voters).
Motorists are begging for a return to nose-in diagonal parking along San Juan Street, from Gonzaga to Luzuriaga Streets, as a means of accommodating more vehicles and to deter double parking. In addition, a 12-meter loading-unloading area should be set up along San Juan Street near the Sea Breeze Hotel. Jeepneys allow passengers to disembark along the road because there is no such provision. Those caught violating should be ticketed – it would also soften traffic flow.
The old Bacolod Airport should be used as an unloading bay for buses entering the city from the south. Their current unloading location is near the Goldenfield Commercial Complex but it is along a busy road. While it is possible to continue using it, jeepneys should not be allowed to stop while buses are unloading – this is a GUARANTEED solution.
On the city’s east side, drivers should not be permitted to make left turns onto Burgos Street when exiting Lopue’s East; alternatively, eastbound vehicles along Burgos Street should be allowed to turn left into the Lopue’s East parking lot – another GUARANTEED solution (and my friend Billy Lopue would agree with this).
Will traffic authorities and local officials buy into these ideas?
Also, there’s no need to say these ideas came from me, I’m not after any praises. I just happen to be a member of the 1992 Bacolod City Traffic Study Group, served as traffic consultant for the city in 2006 and for a big mall in 2007, and was a business adviser for Marikina City first district Rep. Bayani Fernando during his time as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair.
During his time as Marikina City mayor, Bacolod City was his cleanliness model. Last November, in a column entitled “Simple traffic solutions in 78 hours” – the third part of a four-part series – I discussed a visit to Bacolod City by the congressman, noting, “On a visit to the city 12 years ago, however, he expressed shock seeing fish vendors selling their wares along Luzuriaga Street, with various odors detected when driving by – he shook his head and drove away” – that is history and a story.
If the Bacolod City traffic czar reads this, they could easily implement these suggestions within a day without hurting anybody’s political heart.
Now, who needs the MMDA?
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This column greets Rodel Parcon, Atty. John Orola, Jr., Tony Cacho, Danny Dangcalan, Alvin Rongo, Ian Lachica, Toto Tarrosa, Neel Abordaje, Ricky Monfort, Johnny Montalvo, JB Ongsingco, Joann Yoshida, Dante Amaguin, Raymund Javellana, Richard Oquendo, Ray Tabafunda, Rene Cortum, and Dindo Ilagan./WDJ