CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Romeo Calizo criticized the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) for giving what he called “band-aid” solutions to the traffic problem, giving the department a failing grade.
Calizo is designated to head the committee of the whole which is tasked to discuss the city's traffic problem. He said the committee has yet to meet as he awaits the report of Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. who chairs the committee on public utilities.
“Kulang ug broad and bold projects sa engineering aspect, puro lang band-aid solution, even on their law enforcement,” Calizo said.
The councilor cited as an example the practice of parking vehicles and trucks by the roadside due to the lack of parking areas in the city.
He said this solution is short-term and if not addressed, will only pose risks to motorists.
“Kulang sa enforcement, engineering, pag-educate sa motorists, ug pagpangita sa environmental and economic effects sa traffic problem,” he said.
“Bagsak ang RTA, pero paghatag ug immediate solutions pasar sila. I appreciate them for giving short term solutions kay makadagan pa man gihapon ta,” he added.
He said the RTA's traffic plan has not worked and is not effective.
This is why Councilor Lao said Mayor Oscar Moreno should convene the Traffic Management Board (TMB) the soonest possible, a request he asked twice already with the first in June.
“I do not know what happened why it did not push through because the last time I heard, gisugod naman daw kadto ug convene. By convening this body and putting people who are knowledgeable on traffic management, we will precisely help our RTA with their job,” Lao said.
The traffic management plan, he said, should be the legislators' guide in crafting traffic-related policies.
Lao said convening the TMB is mandated under a city ordinance.