THE City Government plans to minimize traffic problems in Cagayan de Oro by modernizing the city's traffic lights and signages, a City Council official said.
Councilor Alden Bacal, chairman of the City Council's committee on public utility, said had already suggested to Mayor Vicente Emano to set aside funds for the modernization of the city's traffic system.
"I plan to overhaul and change the traffic system in the city just like in America, Singapore and other developed countries," Bacal said.
He said former mayor Constantino Jaraula was able to align 15 major junctions but 50 more still need to be overhauled.
Bacal said he also plans to put up closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all 50 major junctions and entry points in the city.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier offered to provide free CCTV cameras as part of its campaign against anti-terrorism but Bacal said the City Government would acquire its own to make sure the cameras installed would be "of good quality."
"We will add modern traffic lights that have the capacity to look at the volume of traffic and that all road and street signs in the city will be of different setting just like in other countries where it can easily be identified by motorists, with white background, and green for the letters and signs," Bacal said.
Apart from this, he added that a monitoring office would also be set up at the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) that would monitor the traffic condition as well as terrorism in the city.
Going along with this modernization, Bacal said the City Government would strictly impose traffic rules and instill discipline to drivers and commuters.
"Having modern gadgets are useless if the drivers and commuters has no proper decorum on traffic and street policies," he said.
Bacal said the RTA would revoke the licenses of those drivers who refuse to undergo drug test, are not wearing their uniforms, no identification for their conductors and violators of street laws and regulation.
"I will also amend the ordinance on jaywalking and put up road railings so that the people would be forced to pass through the overpass," he said.
Bacal said all these programs would be implemented as soon as the budget would be released. (Nicole J. Managbanag)