FOLLOWING the successive downpours over the past few days, which have doubled travel times for motorists during peak hours induced by heavy flooding, the Mandaue City Government is considering implementing vehicle rerouting, particularly in flood-prone areas.
This temporary measure aims to alleviate the significant traffic congestion that occurs during heavy rainfall, easing the inconvenience faced by both motorists and commuters.
Lieutenant Colonel Franco Rudolf Oriol, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) deputy city director for administration and spokesperson, said Thursday, September 14, 2023, that they discussed the initiative in a meeting attended by the MCPO and other city law enforcement departments, such as the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MCDRRMO), and other stakeholders on Thursday.
The meeting pointed particularly to re-routing vehicles passing the five flood-prone areas in the city -- the area near the University of Cebu Lapu Lapu-Mandaue (UCLM) Campus, UN Avenue in Barangay Umapad, Rolling Hills in Barangay Banilad, and Innodata in Barangay Subangdaku -- which are often impassable during the heavy rainstorms.
Oriol revealed plans to establish road diversions at the onset of rain showers, proactively posting public advisories on government Facebook pages to spare motorists and commuters future inconvenience in these flood-prone areas.
Additionally, ground personnel, including officers from the MCPO and Team will be present to guide the public.
Increased travel time
According to Team’s statistical calculation, the average travel time for motorists and commuters passing through Mandaue City during peak hours (5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) is about an hour, but this can increase to two hours during flooding.
To assist commuters, they conduct traffic management orientation, offer assistance, conduct Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns, and provide free rides to stranded passengers.
Public reactions
Reactions from commuters, however, were divided.
Johan Abante, a resident of Barangay Umapad, welcomed the measure, considering it helpful in preventing commuters from getting stranded on roads for extended periods.
But Sab Bentazal suggested that the City Government should prioritize completing its comprehensive drainage master plan to permanently address the problem of flooding caused by clogged drainage systems.
Drainage master plan
In September 2022, Architect Marlo Ocleasa, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), reported that only half of the P3 billion project had been completed due to funding constraints.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes recently convened an emergency meeting to assess the project’s progress amid continuous rains and flooding.
Decreased business sales
Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Kelie Ko acknowledged that the city’s unresolved traffic and worsening flooding problems could significantly impact manual and online business operations.
These issues may affect consumer behavior and hinder the efficient operation of online businesses, potentially leading to decreased sales.
But Ko encouraged business owners to adapt to the situation and find ways to meet their customers’ needs despite the challenges. (HIC)