BY ALEX ALAGON
THE 21ST City Council on Tuesday approved the resolution to close Bolton Bridge I (southbound direction) to vehicular traffic for 10 days from 10 p.m. on July 18 to midnight on July 27 to repair the structure’s expansion joints.
The request was made by Engr. Joed Pareñas, project manager of the Agong Builders and Construction Supply, Inc.
“The repair works are necessary to prevent further deterioration and potential structural damage that may compromise the safety of the motoring public,” the letter signed by City Transport and Traffic Management Office OIC Eduardo Perez read.
The Bridge 2 (northbound direction) will temporarily serve as a two-way traffic route.
The requesting party is mandated to provide traffic cones/barriers, reflectorized signage within the areas, and public advisories should also be installed in advance to guide the public and ensure compliance.
CTTMO personnel will be deployed to manage vehicular movement and assist motorists at strategic locations, along with traffic marshals from the contractor, especially during nighttime hours.
Heavy trucks coming from the north will be prohibited from passing through Bridge 2 to prevent traffic congestion at critical intersections, especially at the Sandawa Intersection.
These vehicles will be rerouted via Quirino Avenue and other designated alternate routes.
- CTTMO: Pending Bus Project, scarce resources delay repair of traffic lights
THE PENDING bus project and scarce resources delayed repairs of the traffic lights, the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) revealed on Thursday.
CTTMO acting chief Atty. Eduardo Perez said only 32-33 of the 71 signalized intersections are operational.
Perez noted that in 2021, the office was instructed to identify areas that warrant traffic lights, and they submitted a list of more than 20 intersections.
However, considering the approved budget was only P30 million, they were forced to prioritize only five intersections—the Panacan-Malagamot, Eden Street in Ma-a, Bioessence in Sarrenas, Ecowest Drive in Ecoland, and Aquino St. Central Warehouse in Agdao.
“Because of the changes due to the pandemic, we cannot prioritize all the recommended intersections,” he said.
Perez said they had to deal with scarce resources, considering that one intersection alone, such as in Panacan, needed P12 million to be overhauled.
Additionally, the delayed High Priority Bus System also impacted traffic light repairs.
“Ang context ani is we are waiting for the Davao bus kay isa sa component is to repair this kay useless ang bus kung walay traffic signal,” he stressed.
To mitigate the traffic, CTTMO trained 30 additional enforcers last year, who completed their training last month, to replace the previous staff due to motorist complaints.
Presently, the office has a total of 600 personnel, 400 of whom are deployed in the field to form part of the Special Operations Team, cycle units, and the Anti-Jaywalking Team, among others.
The CTTMO requested an additional 150 enforcers last year to ensure road safety, especially for vulnerable pedestrians.
THE CITY Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) revealed on Thursday the plan to adopt a Smart Pay Parking System.
CTTMO acting chief Atty. Eduardo Perez said the AI-powered smart parking system aims to regulate the pay-parking and improve traffic conditions.
“The CTTMO recommended the smart parking system to avoid illegal parking, and to run after parking fee evaders,” Perez said in a sideline interview after the iSpeak Media Forum on Thursday.
The smart system was piloted last year and is awaiting negotiation of the city government and the contractor Smart Philippines, Inc., through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Pending the PPP certification, CTTMO is also working with the office of the 21st city council committee chair on peace and public safety for the revival of the Wheel Clamp ordinance aimed at running after illegally parked vehicles.
The concept is to track the parked vehicles and, using an AI-powered camera, capture car owners paying at the parking slot. The system will also allow riders to reserve and secure a slot through a mobile app.
Perez said they need to monitor the parked vehicles as owners oftentimes do not pay when there is no parking fee personnel in sight.
The parking fee for four wheels is P20 for the first two hours and P5 for the next succeeding hours; P5 for motorcycles per hour; and P100 for buses and trucks.
CTTMO reported that the collection in 2024 reached P16 million, short of P2 million from the 18 million target.
At present, there are a total of 18 pay parking areas in downtown, but only seven are operational and making revenues, as some areas do not have personnel manning the collection.
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