- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the experimental traffic scheme to be implemented by the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office, starting on Monday, Dec. 12, in a bid to ease gridlock, especially along the central business district.
The BTAO proposed that no vehicle will be allowed to park along Lacson Street, while one-way traffic will be implemented, west to east, from Aquinaldo St. to Lacson St., stretching from 24th, 21st, 19th, 17th, 15th, and 13 streets, with diagonal parking at south side only.
It will also be one-way westward, from the 23rd, 22nd, 20th, 18th, 16th, 14th, and 12th streets, with diagonal parking at north side.
Diagonal parking, west side only, will be applied from B.S. Aquino Drive to North Capitol Road, and eastside only, from North Capitol Road to B.S. Aquino Drive, BTAO head, P/Major Junjie Liba said at the briefing attended by Mayor Alfredo Benitez, City Administrator, Atty. Pacifico Maghari III, and City Legal Officer, Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., at the Bacolod Government Center Dec. 7.
A 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. truck ban, meanwhile, will be strictly enforced at Circumferential Road, barring exemptions as per City Ordinance 542-2011, like fire trucks, police and military trucks, dump trucks, and those carrying persons needing medical attention, and petroleum products, among others.
Benitez said “this is in response to the expected traffic this Christmas Holidays. We want to try this out in an experimental basis, (as) this can reduce traffic para tawhay man aton Christmas break and festivities.”
He said that concerned citizens have been lamenting the worsening traffic jam, with more mobility, more visitors, and more transactions, especially this month.
The SP already ratified the recommendations of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council which adopted the traffic scheme of BTAO, subject to the submission of the plan and the continuing review of the sanggunian during the experimental period.
Councilor Renecito Novero also said that notices and signages should be posted by the BTAO with regard the new traffic scheme.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the SP Committee on Transportation and Traffic, meanwhile, voted with reservations, saying he was not invited to the BTAC meeting when measures to ease traffic congestion were discussed and agreed on./CGC
