CAPITOL’S traffic czar has asked all traffic management offices in Metro Cebu to delay or advance their yearly Christmas parties as people are expected to flock to malls during the holiday rush.
Jonathan Tumulak, Capitol traffic management focal person, made the call as he doesn’t want a repeat of last year’s “Carmageddon” in which traffic in Southern Cebu was at a standstill for six hours just two days before Christmas.
Traffic jams were also felt in some parts of Northern Cebu, Tumulak said.
Tumulak said traffic jams often occur if there are few or no traffic enforcers on the streets.
He urged traffic management offices in local government units in Metro Cebu to either delay or hold earlier their Christmas parties so that they can deploy early for the holiday rush.
“Ug mahimo, i-delay lang una ang celebration sa Christmas party or i-advance ang Christmas party. Basta ibawal lang ang pag-celebrate ug Christmas party gikan gyud sa pagka-petsa 21 (Dec. 21) hangtud na gyud inig dayong Pasko. Itutok lang ang tanan (enforcer) sa kadalanan unya liwas na lang ta sa Pasko mag-celebrate (If possible, they either hold it earlier or delay their Christmas parties. Just don’t hold them from Dec. 21 until Christmas day. They should focus their efforts on the streets),” Tumulak added.
Tumulak said that before the Christmas rush begins, he will hold a coordination meeting with traffic managers and chiefs of police on their traffic preparations during the holidays.
Last year, motorists and commuters found themselves stuck for seven to 10 hours on the road due to several accidents that occurred in Talisay City and Minglanilla.
Aside from several other factors, the absence of Minglanilla’s traffic enforcers, who were attending their Christmas party, contributed to the gridlock. (from AZLG of SuperBalita Cebu/JKV)