THE Mati City Government in Davao Oriental will be implementing its P20-million traffic signalization system.
In a press release from the Mati City Information Office, the City Government started its test run on September 17 in the four junctions where the traffic lights are installed.
The dry run started at 2 p.m. at the Martinez junction, followed by the Daticor junction in Matiao, then at the St. Camillus Crossing, and at the Rizal junction.
The test run was led by the Mati City Traffic Management Office (MCTMO), City Public Safety Office, and the Traffic Supplies and Construction Corporation, which was the same company that managed the traffic signalization system in Tagum City.
The morning before the dry run, personnel from MCTMO underwent briefing and orientation on the new traffic signalization system at the Pelaez Activity Center.
Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat was represented by Allan Andrada at the orientation, which was facilitated by the Project Engineer John Bernard Infante.
Days before the actual orientation, flyers were handed out to the drivers about basic information on the traffic lights.
The local government said the traffic lights are turned on individually by Project Engineer Bernard Infante and Jeysie Agdan.
City Councilor Eric Rabat, officer-in-charge of the city traffic signalization system, said this is a milestone for the city and hopes for more similar projects in the future.
During the trial, local drivers and pedestrians were observed to be adjusting to the traffic lights in the city.
Infante said they will be making adjustments to the traffic lights’ system as they observed during the dry run that the go signal for pedestrians is a little longer especially in Rizal street during rush hour. This is to make a smoother flow for the vehicles and pedestrians.
The P20-million city traffic signalization project started last April 8, 2021, and is part of the infrastructure agenda under the administration of Rabat.
The local government urged Matinians to follow all traffic laws because it is “for our benefit, safety, and also for the smooth flow of traffic in our city,” according to the press release.