Parada stalls city traffic

MOTORISTS had to endure Friday’s congested traffic due to the six-hour "Parada Dabawenyo" in line with the city's 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.

According to traffic enforcer Bryan Quiamco, the parade affected routes from Aldevenco Shopping Center on Roxas, C.M. Recto Avenue, Bonifacio, Pelayo, and San Pedro streets.

"Kani nga mga karsada sirado during sa parada (These streets were closed during the parade)," he said.

This year's "Parada Dabawenyo" got the most participation from contingents totaling to 284 as against the previous years.

It said vehicles started to build up along Pichon Street as early as 7:30 a.m. prior to the official opening of the parade at 8 a.m.

Heavy congestion was felt by motorists at its worst during noontime.

Other areas most affected by the congestion were Quimpo Boulevard, Quezon Boulevard, San Pedro Street, and Sandawa Road.

He said jeepneys en route to Buhangin, including Route 4 and 11 jeepneys were rerouted to Quezon Boulevard, which made the situation even worse because of an ongoing road construction.

Quiamco said taxi driver requested that he be allowed to pass through the temporarily closed San Pedro Street because he was conveying a foreigner but the former said there is no exemption to the traffic rules.

The traffic flow normalized starting at 2 p.m.