THE Davao City Government is developing new routes for public utility vehicles to ease traffic congestion in the city, a city councilor said.
Committee on transportation and communication chair Councilor Conrado Baluran, in a privilege speech, said the city will soon open alternative routes for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and vehicles after the problem was discussed in a transportation summit organized by the Department of Transportation.
He cited as example the Catalunan Grande route that is proposed to go toward London Biscuits in Ulas before turning around to Matina Aplaya and passing through Davao City Overland Transport Terminal to Bolton.
Baluran, however, failed to tackle the existing traffic congestion along the Matina Aplaya Road.
He added they are also planning to open a new route in Calinan—from Ula going out to Tacunan then Catalunan Grande down to Maa then to its original route, to decongest the traffic in the main roads of the city.
"There are system roads that are converging on choke areas, particularly on Ulas and Matina Crossing so to minimize the converging of the PUJs coming from the south, there will be modification of the routes," Baluran said.
Another alternative route is coming from Panacan going out to Sasa then there will be an introduction of double deck transport services which will introduce the main city streets. There will be shortcuts also for the vehicles.
Baluran said there are about 12 deputized officers by the Land Transportation Office and Highway Patrol Group to look into the traffic in new routes.
The city will also place two flyovers in Ulas and Matina Crossing.
The city and the transportation department, meanwhile, is also contemplating on putting up terminal in Maa Diversion Road that will cater the buses coming from Butuan, Bukidnon and Cotabato so they will no longer enter the Poblacion in Davao City.
Baluran said they are hoping that the problem on traffic congestion here will soon be resolved.