Title: implementation of road safety management in Dumaguete city

Respondents: drivers and traffic officers

Sop 1: what is the level of implementation of road safety management in Dumaguete

city in terms of
A. Traffic/ Signs
B. Traffic laws
C. Speed limits
D. Obstructions on the road

Sop 2: how significantly different is the assessment of the respondents as to the level
of implementation of road safety management in dumaguete city in terms of
A. Calamities
B. Poor Budgeting
C. Road safety seminars
D. lack of discipline

Sop3: what are the challenges in the implementation of road safety management in
dumaguete city
There are major challenges and constraints Dumaguete City has to consider in implementing the
sustainable transport policies and measures, these are the following:
1. Road and Traffic Facilities:
• Insufficient road network of roads (links, hierarchy)
• Capacity is insufficient due to narrow roads
• Lack of traffic facilities at critical points
• Worsening traffic congestion, smoke pollution and pedestrian-motorists conflicts
• The development of alternate routes is constrained by Road-Right-of-Way problems
and environmental concerns (e.g. passing thru critical watersheds)
• Location of schools, hospitals and other commercial establishments along the Central
Business District contributing to traffic congestion
• Lack of traffic enforcers to direct traffic especially along the CBD during peak hours in
the morning and afternoon
• Problems on law enforcement (City Ordinance 7-84 entitled “An Ordinance Adopting a
Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic Regulations for the City of Baguio, needs
updating to fit present traffic conditions)
 2. Public Transport:
• Too many jeepneys/vehicles on the road
• Too many existing franchises on public utility vehicles (PUV)
• Duplicated lines of service routes
• Lack of off-street loading/unloading stations for PUVs
• Airport not fully operational to cater to foreign and domestic customers

3. Motorization:
• Rapid increase of motor vehicles
• High volume of pedestrians using the sidewalks, overpasses and crossing the roads

4. Sidewalk and Parking:

• Encroachment of vendors and businesses
• Uneven sidewalks due to uncoordinated design and lay-out
• Lack of parking spaces

5. Lack of discipline:
• Undisciplined drivers and pedestrians on the streets

Sop 4: what recommendations can be performed to effectively implement the road

safety management in Dumaguete city.
1. remove all illegal parking vehicles and provide a place for parking vehicles.
2. Remove illegal vendors at the side of the road

Chapter 2.
Look for literature pertaining to road safety management which will be the basis of your
questionnaires

by Teodorico Tan

Dumaguete City has to cope with so many problems arising from its status as a highly urbanized city.
One of these are traffic-related problems brought about by the increase in the number of pedestrians
and vehicles traversing the city’s various road corridors.

Evolving problem

The depth of these problems and the corresponding approaches on how to deal with it are foreign to
many, since the problem is an evolution of our present generation and will continue to evolve in the
coming years. The gravity of traffic problems was uncommon in the past.

If it is a consolation at all, Dumaguete City is not alone in facing this problem. Traffic is a concern that
besets any progressing city or municipality.

In the past, Dumaguete implemented various traffic reduction remedies. Some of these are the
product of the inputs of this writer and other volunteers. These schemes gave some relief on some
areas of concern, especially the occasional gridlock at the rotunda of Session Road. But these are not
enough. More concrete action by the city government is needed because as traffic problems evolve, so
must be the solutions.

At present, Dumaguete City still needs to mitigate present and future traffic-related problems. Judging
from what we see on the ground, occasional traffic congestion on Dumaguete’s road corridors
especially at intersections and illegally parked vehicles are a common sight.

Sometimes I am asked about what could be the solution to Dumaguete’s traffic problems. I
understand the public’s eagerness, but the answer they want to hear is like asking the Dumaguete
Water District to fill a 20-drum water tank at one time.

4Es in traffic management

There is no simple answer on the question on how to solve traffic problems. Not a single solution will
address all of these. But in general, the four pillars or the 4Es in traffic management must be adopted.
These are engineering, enforcement, education, and enactment of traffic laws. The absence of one will
surely have an adverse effect on traffic movement.

A broad participation of all stakeholders should contribute in addressing the problem on traffic
congestion in the city. For instance, the Department of Public Works and Highways can widen and
improve roads and the city government can mobilize resources for an orderly traffic, such as deploying
sufficient number of traffic personnel on the field. Motorists and pedestrians, on the other hand, have
to abide by traffic rules and regulations.

What is lacking

The number of commercial establishments in Dumaguete may be increasing but the capacity of
existing roads and streets remains. Traditionally, traffic reduction in the city was limited to legislating
ordinances that regulate the number of vehicles on the road. In terms of infrastructure, roads were
only upgraded but scant attention is given on the management side.

The proposal to build an underground road system may no longer be feasible at present. Not only is it
expensive, it is not advisable to construct a tunnel in an area where buildings at the periphery already
exist.

Facing reality

Dumaguete City should realize that its road designs and layout were not built to accommodate a far
bigger population than what we have at present. Drastic measures and concrete action must be taken
to address traffic problems brought about by new developments.

Traffic however, could still be managed by adopting some measures such as creation of an office that
dwell solely on traffic issues, construction of a multi-level parking building at the central business
district, formulation of a traffic master plan, formulation of permanent traffic reduction schemes that
are presently on an experimental basis, widening at Sibulan National Road, strict implementation of
the Building Code and Zoning Ordinance, relocation of the Gov. Pack bus depot, and establishment of
clustered jeepney terminals.

There is a need to create a Traffic and Parking Management Office (TPMO), which will take charge of
all traffic concerns of Dumaguete City. A similar proposal was lodged at the city council in the past but
it remains pending because of budget constraints and overlapping of functions with that of the Land
Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Once established, the TPMO will set up a “traffic control center,” where traffic movement in all roads
at the CBD will be monitored through the installation of closed circuit television cameras. A command
center for all traffic lights and traffic personnel will also be in place. The realization of this is the
direction of any city that continues to progress.

The construction of a multi-level parking building at the CBD should be considered. The building
should accommodate at least 1,000 to 3,000 parking slots. If this will materialize, more road space
will be made available for traffic because on-street parking is limited. Road capacity will be increased
as a result of additional lanes coming from previously occupied on-street parking. Pay parking near
the city center must also be instituted by the city government for the motorists to park their vehicles
on a designated parking area and not on the road side, in order not to impede traffic flow.

The city should have a traffic master plan. This will guide city planners on what to do to all present
and future traffic concerns, like the expected increase in the number of vehicles coming in and out of
Dumaguete especially with the completion of the extension/concreting of the extension of Flores Ave.,
from the Escano portion in barangay Piapi northwards towards Silliman Beach in barangay Bantayan.

The plan must be comprehensive, such that it can foresee traffic problems and could provide
appropriate solutions to all of Dumaguete’s traffic concerns.

Flores Avenue and Sibulan junction need various traffic schemes. Without formal approval through an
ordinance, necessary funding for the needed infrastructure component for these traffic schemes can’t
be implemented. These are very important to enhance and improve traffic climate in the affected
areas. Necessary traffic facilities and geometric improvement must be put into place not only to
improve traffic flow but also to provide precautionary devices for motorists and pedestrians. One
planned infrastructure component is a pedestrian refuge island to be constructed at the middle of the
road.

There is also a need to look for possible widening of at Canday-ong at the corner of Robinsons; in
Bantayan between Rovira Rd. and the highway; in Piapi between EJ Blanco and the highway; in Daro
between Aldecoa Drive and the highway. This is the only road corridor in the northern direction that’s
why it is so congested. Widening is necessary since there are no other viable alternative roads that
can accommodate the volume of vehicles passing in this direction. At present, widening the road is
difficult especially with right-of-way (ROW) issues. The government agency in charge of addressing
ROW matters must not be precluded from exploring solutions that could address congestion in this
major artery.

The Building Code must be strictly implemented. The city government must ensure that all commercial
buildings comply with the National Building Code, which prescribes a number of parking slots for every
building, including schools. Absent or inadequate parking spaces contribute a lot in constricting city
roads and streets which lead to traffic congestion at a certain location.

Strict implementation of the Zoning Ordinance as specified in the land use plan on the proper location
of structures that will generate vehicular traffic like shopping centers, hotels, schools, restaurants, and
various establishments is needed. It is important that they are in a proper location. In schools and
malls, exit and entrance for vehicles must be studied carefully in order not to interfere or congest the
existing traffic flow in the affected area.

The road sections that need some attention for traffic improvements are:

construction of the Junob-Cadawinonan diversion road up to the bridge.

Work on the government center in the outskirts barangay of Bajumpandan, which is also seen to help
ease traffic in the city. The absence for loading/unloading bay and on street parking, contributed to
the occasional congestion on that area, especially in the afternoon.

The plan to transfer the port to either Bacong or Siaton will also help lessen the traffic flow in the city

Magsaysay flyover: The constant congestion in this area merits a review on its design, which can be
limited at the assigned traffic flow direction on the fly-over, geometric improvements, and traffic
facilities.
Establishment of new bus terminal: The present terminal at San jose Street once vacated, could help
in decongesting traffic at the Dumaguete in the future.

Establishment of PUJ terminals in cluster: The city must look into the possibility of consolidating
overlapping routes and reduce the volume of some PUJs. Allocation of PUJ loading and unloading zone,
especially for PUJs that do not have terminals, must be established.

For us to have a better traffic climate, concerted efforts by all stakeholders are needed, not only by
our city officials but also of motorists, pedestrians, and other agencies like the DPWH.

In the end, we should ask ourselves, are we are part of the solution or part of the problem?

Reuse the questionnaires based on reviewed SOP’s

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