TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) — The Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement and Control Office (TOMECO) has announced a dry-run of new traffic schemes on the second week of October.
Isabelo Lagutan, TOMECO information officer said the dry-run slated October 7 will include the conversion of Quezon Boulevard to two-way traffic and the inversion of the current one-way scheme of Burgos, Gomez and Zamora Streets.
According to Lagutan the dry-run is in anticipation of the impending increase of vehicle traffic in the city.
He said that based on current vehicles volume estimates, the city will be heavily congested in three years time if it doesn’t act now. He said that everyday at least 50 vehicles are added to the city’s traffic volume.
TOMECO Chief Salvador “Buddy” Estudillo announced that the planned conversion and reversal of traffic schemes in major thoroughfares of the city has the support of the transport sector.
An amendment of the Traffic Code of Tacloban City, however, is needed before the proposed traffic schemes can take effect.
Meantime, the TOMECO is currently on the strict enforcement of the Helmet Ordinance, Anti-Jaywalking and Anti-littering ordinances of the city. The sole traffic enforcement arm of the city said that they have legal basis for the strict implementation.
On orders of Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez a task force composed of city government employees was formed recently to augment the enforcement powers of the TOMECO.
The task force divided in several groups conduct a day and night implementation of the ordinances.