Tacloban Councilors to study new traffic scheme

TACLOBAN CITY, June 13 (PNA) – The City Council here on Monday clarified that the on-going re-routing scheme is not yet final and just a dry-run aimed to check whether the proposal is effective or not.

Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said the re-routing scheme is being conducted based on the request of the Traffic Operations Management Enforcement Coordinating Office (Tomeco).

The request for a dry-run was received by the Council through the Executive department. It was referred to the committee on transportation and City Councilors passed a resolution allowing Tomeco to temporarily implement the traffic scheme.

Yaokasin explained that a two-week dry-run is needed to assess the traffic scheme proposal.

"If successful, a public hearing should be done if indeed the scheme has achieved its purpose. An ordinance may be passed to legitimize the re-routing scheme,” he said.

The on-going dry-run will conclude on Wednesday and Yaokasin is hopeful that an assessment report will come out soon to check if the scheme is beneficial to all parties concerned.

“The interest of the majority should be considered, and that the good of all should prevail,” he said.

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 here.

He made the statement after hundreds of MCH drivers protested against the traffic scheme by not operating during the day. (PNA)
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