Decongesting Cebu Traffic

Ten years ago, Cebu used to be a 10-minute city. Today, you could be lucky to get to your destination within 45 minutes. The traffic situation in Cebu is turning from bad to horrible and this will worsen unless it is addressed. Pretty soon, Cebu will become a carbon copy of Manila. Each time I take a trip there for business or a family visit, setting appointments at 10AM would mean leaving home at 8 but getting up at 6. And because you’re trapped in the 5 pm rush hour, that means, an average pinoy arrives home between 9:30-10:00 pm daily.

That’s close to 4 hours of being stuck in traffic doing nothing. We may not be far from that.

Over the last few years, Cebu is growing vertically with mega-construction projects in the form of condominiums, buildings, homes and communities. New businesses have also been established in almost every corner to sari-sari stores and “take-home” outlets (lechon manok, among others) and in all this, our roads are getting narrower while the population is getting wider.

When traffic congestion builds up in the city, people arrive late; it slows down productivity, businesses are affected, tempers flare, accidents multiply, noise erupts, pollution proliferates in the air, fuel economy becomes unrealistic and people would never get to be home on time to be with their families after a long day’s work, and for a city so small with a little over 3 million in population, the traffic congestion not only suffocates but also degrades the quality of life. So how do we resolve this?

To succeed, the mayor cannot do it alone. We all need to work together. The following are compiled suggestions targeted to 3 sectors: the government, the motorists and the pedestrians.

The Government
First, strategic city planning. One of the reasons why Singapore is where it is today in terms of manageable traffic flow, is because their city developers have envisioned and masterfully planned a city with the anticipation of traffic in a given time frame. That means when they build, they make sure that enough space is provided for vehicles to flow in the area. Roads are widened and businesses are not readily approved unless it’s part of the plan. We can grasp this opportunity with the inception of SRP properties and Mactan Newtown before it becomes a gigantic headache in the future.

Road widening in major avenues should be a priority. Many of our streets need repair (potholes slows down the flow and poor drainage contributes to floods). Asphalting is a temporary solution to a recurring problem. Better roads need to be built and the government should take this as an assignment for the people’s interest and not for the sake of a political agenda. They should be done all year round, not once a year. There should be lanes for cars and motorbikes/bicycles, and identifiable jeepney stops with demarcations (with enforcers posted) and better pathways for pedestrians. After all, taxes are being paid and people should see where it goes.

Hiring a credible traffic consultant from Singapore who can study our roads and intersections will be a monumental step and their solutions should not fall under deaf ears.

Second, strict traffic enforcement. Our CITOM officials need to have a change of image. The public perceives them as wolves in sheep’s clothing. They should call an ace, an ace and a spade, a spade – fairly. They cannot be bribed neither should it be an intention either, especially for high-end vehicles. During collisions, there must be a better and faster system to resolve both parties than keeping both vehicles on the road. Putting a high fine on common violations will become expensive learning lessons, which can mature motorists to conform better in the future if done so with proper reasoning.

And by the way, these officers are to be compensated better for the work they put in because 8 hours under the sun, 6 days a week is not a joke. Unweaving Cebu’s traffic requires leadership, patience and skill.

Third, the role of LTFRB is crucial. It is paramount for this body to regulate vehicles, taxi franchises, jeepney applications, etc. There is too much public transportation and private vehicles in Cebu already. And there may come a time when older vehicles should no longer be running in our roads or even those dilapidated taxis and jeepneys. Inspection, inspection, inspection!

The Motorists
One of the best ways that motorists can help, aside from abiding with traffic rules, is having the right understanding of traffic signs. The sign “yield,” seems like an unyielding concept for us Cebuanos, but I’ve heard on radio before that “it’s better to give way to someone and get delayed for 10 seconds, than barging your way and getting stuck for 10 minutes.” Sensible but difficult, when we operate out of greed instead of giving in for the benefit of others. We need to understand the term, “keep intersection open” and not to pursue our right of way even during a “go signal” when it’s jam-packed. This is where CITOM officials and motorists need to collaborate especially during rush hours.

When you see a “no left turn” sign, don’t ninja your way to make a left because there is no traffic official on the prowl. Do this and others will duplicate because you paved the way wrongly. When it comes to “no stopping,” don’t stop! Doing so creates a “butterfly effect,” because one wrong move, however small, will clog up the traffic for several motorists behind you, therefore creating disharmony. Your lechon manok-takeout triggers congestion in less than a minute. Be selfless and responsible.

Don’t even attempt to outhustle jeepney or motorbike drivers who slither their way around, unless you’re prepared to jeopardize your safety. If the CITOM officials will position themselves, these irresponsible drivers should be caught anyway. An attempt to play “the fast and furious” is an exercise in futility.

The Pedestrians
If the government will provide better walkways, stricter rules, skywalks in schools and adjacent properties, bigger signs, and better enforcement, we pedestrians can surely cooperate. But until such time these things are a reality, we have to do our part. The reason why jaywalking is so prevalent, is because there is no fear of the law, therefore, there is no discipline.

Singaporeans fear the law so much (and the whopping penalties thereof) that attempts at it are not even considered and this has been stitched in the fabric of their lives. Cross in assigned areas, assist senior citizens, don’t catch a jeepney when it’s a go sign or get down from it, and be mindful to do what’s right. Please, pedestrians should never assume that they are the “kings of the road” like stray dogs in inner streets.

We have seen a lot of people running too, everywhere. I love the sport, but running during rush hour in major avenues does not make us different from motorbikes or aggressive jeepney drivers. I think people should run in places where it’s safer and free from the traffic to avoid additional congestion and potential accidents. Besides, there’s plenty of fresh air and less noise in appropriate locations.

The Future
I’m pretty sure that there are better ideas out there that we can apply in whatever sector we belong. But the greatest principle in all of this is not another law, but it is being others-centered than being self-centered. Man has always been motivated by personal gain, whatever we can do to benefit ourselves first. And for as long as that remains the mindset of every Cebuano, we’re never going to see a brighter, better and more livable city in the coming years. We’ll always be crabs in an ocean of potential. For us to be a first-class city, we need to be first-class citizens first and to achieve that, we need to be generous, selfless, and results-oriented.

These attributes can only be achieved if we become others-centered: kind, patient, understanding, self-controlled and trusting that to co-exist with other people, we need some form of sacrifice too. It’s a tough pill to swallow but it can be done.

Twenty years ago, Cebu was considered one of the best cities in Asia and the world. Today, we’ve been bumped off from that list by other growing cities. Isn’t it about time that each of us contribute in our little way towards the improvement of our city? Wouldn’t this be a great opportunity for us to take strides, baby steps to make our town better and more valuable? Because after all, one day our kids will inherit it and the kind of baton we should pass on to them should create a better momentum towards the future.

Years from now, I see a train connecting Santander to Bogo. It may be a lofty idea, but I think its possible when were ready and when the city is being stewarded well. I can imagine drivers giving way to others, blinking their lights out of courtesy, honking softly and even a friendly wave when they’re given way. I can see people coming home having a hot meal with their children than parents absent from the dinner table or families having their bonding time in their cars. Wouldn’t you want a city like that? Wouldn’t you want a life like that? I do. That’s why the first step begins with me. Let’s make Cebu better!