TO REDUCE traffic congestion in the city, an Anti-Obstruction Taskforce is mulled.
This developed after Baguio's Traffic and Transportation Management Committee (TTMC) approved the creation of an anti-obstruction task force that will have the primary function of clearing all national and local roads from obstructions to pave the way for convenient travel among the motoring and commuting public.
"The task force will remove illegally parked vehicles at mga illegal extensions sa mga highways to strictly implement the rules na bawal ang mag park sa mga daan at bawal din ang magkaroon ng mga illegal extensions," Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.
The anti-obstruction task force will be composed of personnel from the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), Baguio District Engineering Office, City Engineering Office, Department of Transportation and Communication, Land Transportation Office who will be empowered to remove the license plates of illegally parked vehicles that obstruct the smooth flow of traffic along national and local roads.
The city mayor revealed members of the task force will be going around the different barangays in order to remind local residents of their obligations to free the streets from obstructions before they will start removing the license plates of illegally parked vehicles in order to compel the vehicle owners to park their vehicles in their neighborhood so that the roads will be free from obstructions, especially at night, to allow emergency responders immediately access to sites of emergency situations.
“Hopefully maimplement natin iyong talagang rules natin, unfortunately marami tayong mga constituents na hindi naman nakiki-cooperate at hindi sinusunod iyong ating rules. Dapat sana they should look for their own private parking at hindi dapat sa daan,” Domogan stated.
Earlier, Domogan called on barangay officials to identify available spaces in their respective areas of jurisdiction, which could be used as communal barangay parking area so that residents will not simply park their vehicles along streets.
“Kahit na na-widen na iyong mga roads natin, walang masiyadong epekto kasi iyon nga ginagawang parking area ng mga private vehicles,” Domogan added.
Domogan expressed disappointment over the failure of motor vehicle owners to cooperate with barangay and city officials in locating spaces that could serve as communal parking areas, saying that there are some vehicle owners who seem to have titles over the portion of the streets in front of their houses as they tend to have signages reserving the said spaces as parking spaces for their vehicles. In this connection, observers would like to suggest for the investigation of such claims so that corrective measures are made to clear such for public use.
The mayor added the members of the task force will always be joined by a responsible law enforcer so that motor vehicles found to cause obstructions on roads will be immediately removed of its license plate and issued the appropriate citation ticket. (With a report from Dexter See/PIO)