CEBU City Transportation Office (CCTO) assistant head Kent Francisco Jongoy claims that travel time in the Banilad-Talamban (Ban-Tal) area is now faster thanks to the implementation of the “discipline zone.” However, many motorists have experienced the opposite.
In a news forum on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Jongoy stated that the new traffic scheme, implemented along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue, has significantly improved traffic flow in the area.
“Before, it took us 45 minutes from the Talamban Barangay Hall going to Ayala, but yesterday we recorded a whopping 11 minutes,” said Jongoy.
A discipline zone was implemented in the Ban-Tal corridor to alleviate traffic congestion. It has four main components: the establishment of the Talamban circle, the creation of public utility vehicle (PUV) lay-bys, the imposition of motorcycle lanes, and the diversion of PUVs to Highway 77.
However, the first day of the discipline zone’s implementation on Monday, June 23, received mixed reactions from commuters and motorists. While some felt traffic relief, others reported that the situation remained unchanged.
Commuter Elezabet Carambas, in an interview with SunStar Cebu, said the traffic has lessened since Monday.
“As for my experience, if it’s not rush hour, I can no longer feel the traffic, not the same as before. But during rush hour, it’s also not as heavy as before,” Carambas said.
Irvin Grigor Adrales, who regularly drives through the area in his personal vehicle, also noted an improvement in traffic flow.
But “George,” who refused to disclose his real name, expressed a different view, stating the scheme is not effective and traffic congestion is still the same. He commutes through the area daily on his motorcycle.
“Traffic man gihapon. Bisag daghan kaykog makit-an nga enforcer, mao ra gihapon,” he said.
(It’s still traffic. Despite the number of enforcers deployed in the area, it’s still the same.)
Similar to George, some public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers have observed the same, suggesting the implementation might even worsen traffic and travel time. Gary, a PUJ driver bound for Talamban, specifically said that traffic congestion in the area has become worse.
Jongoy said the discipline zone will continue based on its applicability and effectiveness. / John Mart Mabalhin, VSU Intern, Hilary Natalie Berongoy, HNU Intern, Ruyz Angela Lois Manacap CNU Intern