Traffic summit sought in Dagupan
DAGUPAN City councilors are one in asking the administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez to call for a summit on traffic management in the city to address emerging traffic problems in many parts of the city.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) last week passed a resolution requesting Fernandez to call an “urgent traffic summit” in anticipation of the opening of local units of major Manila-based malls and business establishments in the city’s business district.
The measure was proposed by Councilor Alvin Coquia, chairman of the committee on transportation, who expressed fear that the traffic situation in the city will turn from bad to worse with the opening of more shopping malls and other business establishments this year.
Coquia said a summit will establish rules and plans to counter possible adverse effects of traffic congestion in strategic areas where malls operate.
The summit can discuss opening of new jeepney routes that will skirt the already crowded central business district and recommend the construction of additional and alternate roads, he said.
The City Mall held its soft opening on April 30 and already spawned heavy vehicular traffic along Mayombo Road extending up to Calasiao. Its full opening is set for the next few weeks.
A bigger shopping mall, SM Dagupan Central on M.H. del Pilar Street, is set to open by December this year.
In seeking the traffic summit, Coquia said Dagupan, being the center of trade, commerce and industry north of Manila, needs a workable and efficient traffic system that can cope with the operations of Manila-based malls, business establishments and information technology-based industries that have started to mushroom in the city.
The resolution asked owners or executives of the different malls and business establishments being constructed, the owner of the private common transport terminal now being built, heads of transport organizations, officials of the Land Transportation Office, and the Land Transportation and Franchising Board and other concerned groups to participate in the summit. (Leonardo Micua)
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