EFFECTIVE December 12, this year, the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) will implement a one-way traffic scheme along Lacson, Aguinaldo, and Gatuslao streets in Bacolod City.

Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said some concerned citizens noticed that heavy traffic was already experienced in the major thoroughfares especially this Christmas season.

“Because of that, the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council (BTAC) had a meeting to come up with measures to address the traffic problem in various areas,” he said.

He added that they agreed to implement a one-way traffic scheme, truck ban, and towing of vehicles that illegally parked on streets.

The mayor noted that it’s a traffic experiment and it will be implemented for the month of December.

For his part, Major Junji Liba, head of BTAO, said the one-way traffic scheme will be implemented to ease the traffic congestion along Lacson Street.

“ Before the implementation, we will conduct a clearing operation along Lacson, Aguinaldo, and Gatuslao streets and we will not allow vehicles to park in said areas,” he said.

He also said that they are eyeing the implementation of the one-way traffic scheme until February 2023.

But if it will trigger worse traffic issues instead, BTAO will also change or terminate the experiment.

Aside from the one-way traffic scheme, Liba said they will also strictly enforce the truck ban along Circumferential Road and Access Road from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Although, under City Ordinance 542, the city is supposed impose the truck ban from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. only.

However, Liba explained that there will be an exemption on the truck ban which includes the fire trucks, police buses and military vehicles with permanent marking indicating the vehicles as such, heavy truck commandeered by the government directed by a person in authority, heavy trucks carrying persons needing immediate medical attention, heavy vehicles utilized as garbage trucks, and government vehicles with government plates.

Liba noted that the violators will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 and P5,000 for the second and third offenses, respectively, with confiscation of driver’s license.

Liba disclosed that they are also preparing for the clamping and towing of vehicles that illegally parked in various areas. (MAP)