MMDA helps Davao City in traffic management plan to decongest roads

DAVAO CITY – A 15-member team from the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) is helping assess the traffic situation in the city with the result to be used in formulating the local government’s traffic management plan.

Based on the report from the city government, the team, headed by Engr. Neomie Recio, MMDA Traffic Engineering Center director, will also help train the City Traffic and Transport Management Office (CTTMO) personnel.

Expected to be completed at the end of the week, the assessment will then be presented to the city government next month so that it can design its traffic management system to address the key challenges that the city has been facing due to traffic congestion.

Recio said the assessment would determine the traffic flaws in the management system, which must be addressed through policy formulation, technology, or even design.

“Kaya kailangan na nating gumawa ng paraan so gawan natin ng traffic management plan itong Davao City para hindi siya matulad sa Manila na kumbaga ngayon pa tayo kikilos eh andiyan na [We need to work this out and put up a traffic management plan so it may not aggravate into a situation like in Manila],” Recio said, emphasizing the need for the two agencies to work together to address the challenges.

Although she theorized that traffic congestion is a product of economic development, she believes that with proper planning, the challenges can be addressed as the problems will compound as the city grows economically.

Dionisio Abude, CTTMO head, said the city government sought the help of MMDA as the Manila-based agency is known for its expertise in traffic management, considering that it is in charge of the traffic system in the main metropolis of the country.

“As of now, we need help from other advanced cities, just like in Metro Manila, considering we need a traffic management plan,” said Abude, adding that the local government will abide by the recommendations of the MMDA team.

Among the areas that will be assessed are the traffic and transportation mechanisms like gaps in design, the use of technology, policies, and traffic management.

The team will also look into traffic count and road inventory survey, make an ocular inspection of existing traffic signal facilities and conduct focus group discussions on the formulation of a capacity-building training course.

Abude said areas that will be part of the study are congested areas like Matina Crossing, Catalunan Grande, C.P. Garcia, Sandawa intersection, Quirino-Pichon, Quirino-Ponciano, San Pedro-Quirino, McArthur Highway—Maa, Panacan, and Malagamot.

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