Dumaguete is, generally, not a very crowded city. However, on certain times of the day—particularly, during rush hour—the roads are filled to its capacity.
Indeed, Dumaguete has grown as a city and its progress can be seen in the continuing establishment of new commercial set-ups. Its development brings with it visitors from around the globe as the city gradually becomes a more convenient place to stay in, whether one is a retiree or has simply decided to move here.
While advantageous in many ways, this increase in population also poses a big inconvenience to the residents, especially with the increasing road traffic congestion.
One cannot deny that roads have become jammed with too many vehicles. The current road network in the city is not capable of accommodating the increasing number of vehicles. Day after day, the problem is becoming more serious. Cars and big vans line up with motorcycles along the road as everybody in a hurry tries to get on time to their specific destinations. Many complain about this traffic, especially students and professionals, but not much has been done about it.
“I have been living in this city for 10 years and, so far, zoning has not been followed. People here are buying more and more cars. Some smaller Filipino families can even own up to three or four!” Rey Torrino, who works as a virtual assistant, said.
A few other critical nuisances also contribute to the problem. There’s the absence of street signals, indiscriminate parking, free-for-all intersections, and the lack of strict enforcement of traffic rules.
A systematic traffic management plan must be devised for the city, otherwise, this severe traffic congestion will persist or even get worse. A better management and solution must also be provided for sidewalk stalls, road construction work, parking, road accidents, and parades for special events.
“I rarely come here to Dumaguete, but every time I do, the traffic really gets me angry. While I am only here for a short time to get things done, I see big, big cars leisurely going around with only one person inside.
Either the residents adjust to the city’s roads by driving motorcycles when it’s possible, or the city update their roads according to the luxurious lifestyle of the people,” business executive Ludivico Ravena observed.
While the problem of traffic is a symptom of a much bigger problem, something has to be done to immediately take care of this seemingly minor and tolerable problem. For one, better traffic facilities, instead of letting traffic policemen act as human sign stops at intersections– which is very dangerous for them as they stand unprotected in the middle of a city-wide traffic jam.
“Most of the pedestrians I have encountered here don’t look before they cross. And, they are not even crossing on the pedestrian lane. I almost hit one even at slow-speed because he was crossing a one-way road and he was looking at the other side. To learn the road here means to expect actions that would seem stupid in any other country,” Khaled Salem, an Egyptian student, said.
Roads also need to be more pedestrian-friendly. The city is small enough for walking to be convenient for many people. In fact, more walking should be encouraged. In that way, the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the vehicles can also be reduced. And, walking is very good for the heart and for maintaining a healthy weight.
The city is said to be an affordable, livable and attractive place to live in. If this reputation has to be maintained, then there is a need to improve on many areas, particularly with the issue on traffic congestion.
It is crucial to reduce the severe traffic congestion to mitigate its undesirable consequences. A good traffic management plan can manage congestion. Traffic rules must be updated and enforced strictly by drivers. They must also be educated on the importance of obeying traffic rules and fostering friendly cooperation in the roads. NWI
