DAVAO’S traffic problem is multifaceted, but the biggest and fastest solution is not more buses or wider roads — it is the strict enforcement of existing laws.
Be strict on jaywalking. The law is not anti-poor; it exists for the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. People using mobile devices while crossing roads create dangerous distractions that put lives at risk.
Yellow loading and unloading zones must also be properly enforced. Jeepneys and taxis that stop abruptly without proper turn signals, or load and unload outside designated areas, create traffic bottlenecks and increase the likelihood of accidents, causing even greater delays. Again, this is not anti-poor — it is the law.
Meter maids are assigned downtown to collect parking fees, yet many fail to issue tickets or reprimand violators. Double parking has become normalized under the excuse of “sandali lang” or “just a minute.”
Along San Pedro and Claveria Streets, vehicles remain parked for hours with hazard lights flashing, reducing already limited road space and worsening congestion.
E-trikes and pedicabs continue to use major thoroughfares and intersections despite posing serious risks. Many operate without proper markings, licenses, or road safety training. Yet when apprehended or involved in accidents, enforcement is often dismissed as being “anti-poor.”
Areas such as Bucana Trading remain heavily congested because of illegal roadside parking by e-trikes on both sides of the road.
Many drivers are not even from Davao City, and some allegedly use religious affiliations or group pressure to intimidate authorities and avoid enforcement.
This problem is compounded by businesses that extend beyond their property lines and occupy sidewalks, forcing pedestrians onto already congested streets.
According to the TomTom Traffic Index, Davao City consistently ranks among the most congested urban centers in the Philippines, with commuters losing dozens of hours each year stuck in traffic.
The economic cost is enormous: lost productivity, wasted fuel, delayed emergency response times, and increased pollution.Responsibility ultimately falls on the PNP, CTTMO, and barangay officials to enforce the law.
Unfortunately, enforcement often stalls because agencies wait for barangay requests, while barangays hesitate out of fear of losing votes.
Votes that were supposed to be built on promises of change and betterment — not entitlement.
At its core, this issue comes down to discipline.Is “Davao Discipline” still real? Or does it only appear during slogans, campaigns, and special occasions?
