Bicol University
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY
Statement of the Problem
1. What is the status of
implementation of the traffic
management system in Sorsogon
City in terms of:
a. Pedestrian assistance
b. Moderating vehicle surges
c. Apprehension/Regulation of
traffic violations
d. Prevention/Intervention during
vehicular accidents
Department of Political Science
Daraga, Albay
THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SORSOGON CITY
Summary Findings Conclusions Recommendations
Considering the A. Pedestrian Assistance There are existing Integration of No-Contact
statements from the On the interview conducted programs and policies Apprehension in the
implementers, the with the implementers, it was found related to traffic Traffic Management
researchers found out out that the traffic management management in the City System. Even with the
that the traffic program takes into consideration and of Sorsogon. However, presence of technology -
management program prioritizes the welfare of the there are shortcomings in security cameras, public
prioritizes the welfare pedestrians. Moreover, arrogant and terms of the extent of speakers, etc., on-the-
of the pedestrians lawless pedestrians, as well as the implementation as is the ground traffic control
above anything else. nature of manual traffic control are case with apprehension of remains solely reliant on
The traffic personnel hindrances to the management of the traffic violators where manpower which sparks
mainly assists the above parameter. The use of CCTV discrepancies were found. bias and inconsistent
pedestrians who cross and other monitoring equipment is It also revealed the judgment, especially
the pedestrian lane deemed helpful to providing safety to weakness of the nature of towards law offenders.
while manually foot travelers. manual traffic control, Therefore, the addition of
controlling the B. Moderating Vehicle Surges specifically on judgment technological traffic control
movement of vehicles Based on the responses given and personal bias towards equipment such as traffic
nearby. The traffic by the participants, the programs on law-offenders. It can lights and an online
management group moderating vehicle surges can be further be deduced that apprehension system will
also makes use of described through the use of the traffic management improve the traffic
CCTV and real-time monitoring equipment and group is equipped with management in Sorsogon
monitoring equipment communication between the the necessary equipment decreasing such incidents of
to augment in monitoring base and on-the-ground and facilities to oversee discrepancies perceived by
assisting the personnel. Proper enforcement of the programs on the respondents. This also
pedestrians. traffic rules is another identity of the pedestrian assistance, addresses the concerns
Considering the said parameter. Ultimately, the role of traffic movement, raised by the respondents of
responses given by the traffic personnel is to assist and guide apprehension of traffic the study regarding
seven participants, it motorists to ensure proper movement violators, and response to “selective apprehension”
can be said that the of vehicles along the road. accidents. Moreover, the with regard to the different
programs on C. Apprehension/Regulation of traffic personnel undergo sectors - pedestrians,
moderating vehicle Traffic Violations trainings and seminars tricycle drivers, and
surges employs both It was found out that traffic before deployment and jeepney drivers. From the
manual and automated personnel employ courteous practices throughout the course of perspective of traffic
techniques through the in apprehending offenders. A system their jobs, but there are management personnel this
traffic personnel and of warning is followed by task force still weaknesses in terms will be beneficial on their
equipment readily members, however most participants of enforcement and end as the field presence, if
available, revealed that issuing citation tickets is dealing with stakeholders. not discontinued, would be
respectively. Traffic largely based on the prerogative of the decreased which is one of
personnel depend on apprehending officer than the number their main concerns as well
the monitoring team in of times an individual has violated a due to the underlying
the office which certain regulation. Furthermore, much environmental (extreme
oversees the general of the work done to regulate traffic heat or rain brought about
status of vehicles violations deal with motorists. It was by the weather) and safety
along the city proper also uncovered that the office was not risks (susceptibility to
and radios back able to collect from all offenders stroke and other diseases)
instructions on which during the last year (January to brought by their field of
areas to prioritize. December 2022). work.
D. Prevention/Intervention during
Vehicular Accidents
The participants of the study’s
interview revealed that the traffic
management group coordinates with
other agencies such as the CDRRMO
(City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office), PNP (Philippine
National Police), and the BFP (Bureau
of Fire Protection) when it comes to
 responding to health-related
emergencies and vehicular accidents.
The traffic personnel are also equipped
with the knowledge and skills in basic
first-aid and emergency response to
augment medical intervention.

2. What is the level of satisfaction of
the traffic management system in
Sorsogon City?
A. Pedestrian Assistance In general, the programs
The respondents were and policies on the traffic
generally satisfied with the programs management system
and activities related to pedestrian received a satisfactory
assistance. For the tricycle drivers, the rating from the
highest parameter was “traffic beneficiaries. This means
enforcers are always present along that there is a high level
pedestrian lanes” at a weighted mean of implementation and
of 2.64. Among the jeepney drivers, effectiveness in terms of
the highest parameter was “designated measures related to
pedestrian lanes are easily accessible” managing the traffic
which received a weighted mean of situation, assistance to
2.72 and a satisfied adjectival rating. pedestrians, and
Finally, the pedestrians rated the emergency response
parameter “designated pedestrian lanes during vehicular
are easily accessible” with a weighted accidents. It also suggests
mean of 2.96 equivalent to a satisfied that the beneficiaries are
rating. contented with much of
B. Moderating Vehicle Surges the services provided by
The parameter on moderating the traffic management
vehicle surges also received a high group. However,
level of satisfaction among the weaknesses in terms of
beneficiaries. For the tricycle drivers, apprehending officer’s
the parameter on “tricycle coding” attitude and skills in
received the highest appraisal with a traffic management reveal
2.86 weighted mean. Based on the that the trainings and
Quick and Efficient
Service Feedbacking
Procedures. The creation
of an easy-access digital
platform intended for both
the implementers and
respondents to lobby their
feedback, queries, and
concerns will widen the
traffic management
system’s recognition in
terms of areas to be
improved. Alongside the
studies being conducted for
its improvement, such
creation would also
measure the efficiency of
the system within every
clientele sector involved.
responses of the jeepney drivers, the
parameter on “tricycle coding” also
received the highest rating of 2.82
equivalent to a satisfied adjectival
rating. With regards to the pedestrians,
the parameter on “tricycle coding”
again received the highest weighted
mean of 2.97 with a satisfied adjectival
mark.
C. Apprehension/Regulation of
Traffic Violations
Two out of three categories of
respondents said that the services
delivered by the traffic management
system on the apprehension/regulation
of traffic violations neither satisfied
them nor dissatisfied them. It was
revealed that the tricycle drivers gave a
rating of satisfied to the parameter
“designated traffic signs at strategic
places” with a weighted mean of 2.56.
For the jeepney drivers, only one
parameter received a satisfied rating
which was “speed limits are
designated accordingly and are being
regulated” with a weighted mean of
2.56. Only the pedestrians provided a
generally satisfied perception, with the
highest weighted mean given to “speed
limits are designated accordingly and
are being regulated” which garnered a
2.97 weighted mean.
D. Prevention/Intervention during
seminars undergone may
not be sufficient. It can be
said that the beneficiaries
are willing to follow the
law, but they want the
law to be applied fairly to
everyone regardless of
status. The findings also
suggest a gap among the
perceptions of
respondents per category,
which can be attributed to
the fact that tricycles are
more prominent in the
city proper, whereas
jeepney drivers do not
frequent the main road,
and pedestrians are rarely
apprehended by traffic
personnel since they are
the priority.
 Vehicular Accidents
The level of satisfaction with
regards to prevention/intervention
during vehicular accidents received a
satisfied rating from all categories of
respondents. The tricycle drivers
labeled the parameter “standard safety
measures such as the use of prescribed
helmets for motorcycles and seat belts
for cars are implemented and
observed” as satisfactory with a
weighted mean of 2.74. As for the
jeepney drivers, the parameter on
“dilapidated motor vehicles are
monitored” got the highest remark
with a 2.64 weighted mean. The
pedestrians gave a 2.96 weighted mean
to the parameter on standard safety
measures.
3. What are the challenges A. Challenges Encountered by the Having gathered Addition of Traffic
encountered in the implementation Implementers sentiments from both the Lights. Similar concerns to
of the traffic management system Based on the interview, the implementers and the inconsistent calls and
in Sorsogon City? implementers perceive traffic violators stakeholders, the judgment to traffic orders
as the main hurdle in the researchers concluded were perceived by the
implementation of rules and that the two are in respondents. This opens a
regulations pertaining to traffic opposition with regards to discussion to add traffic
management. the challenges in the lights specifically within
B. Challenges Encountered by the implementation of the strategic areas such as
Stakeholders traffic management intersection roads to
As with the tricycle drivers, the system. For one, the alleviate and further
following are the perceived challenges implementers believe the improve the traffic
in the implementation of the traffic traffic violators are the conditions in the city. By
management system: inefficiency of main problem. On the this, the improvement of

4. What are the measures for
improvements to the traffic
management system in Sorsogon
City?
traffic enforcers in terms of traffic other hand, the
enforcement, large number of vehicles, beneficiaries perceive the
and lack of discipline of shortcomings to be from
drivers/pedestrians. the side of the
For the jeepney drivers, they implementers citing
perceive the large number of vehicles, inefficiency in
inefficiency of traffic enforcers in enforcement. The
terms of traffic enforcement, and beneficiaries also admit
inadequate number of traffic signs as misgivings on their part
the challenges in traffic enforcement. which indicates that they
The pedestrians perceive the are aware of the rules and
following as the challenges regulations but choose not
encountered in the implementation of to follow them. It further
traffic management: lack of discipline suggests that the traffic
of drivers/pedestrians, inadequate management group is
number of traffic signs, and large holding back in its full
number of vehicles. force implementation,
which is attributed to the
fact that not all those who
violate the law are
capable of paying their
fines. This means that the
traffic personnel exercise
restraint and compassion
towards their
stakeholders.
A. Recommendations of the Based on the
Implementers recommendations
The researchers found out that provided by the
the implementers had various implementers, it can be
suggestions to the improvement of the deduced that they want a
traffic management system. The better system that will not
recommendations include revisiting only benefit the road
traffic flow through a
programmed interval would
not spark any bias within
the traffic commands as to
what is being perceived and
observed towards the traffic
enforcement personnels.
This would also offer a
non-stop traffic
management service as
compared to manpower-
reliant on-the-ground traffic
control.
Regular Seminars,
Performance
Assessments, and
Refresher Trainings. The
conduct of regular training
sessions intended for traffic
management personnel will
the City Building Code, opening of users, but also reduce respond to their
more routes, conducting more their heavy workload performance levels and
trainings and seminars, installations of which is exacerbated by equip them with timely
stoplights in strategic areas, intensified long hours of standing awareness. This would
public address system, more parking and exposure to varying alleviate the concerns raised
spaces, implementing the anti- weather conditions and by both implementers and
jaywalking ordinance, improvements dealing with unreasonable respondents regarding the
on the traffic personnel’s decorum, offenders. On the other different underlying factors
stricter implementation of rules, and hand, the beneficiaries’ causing such shortcoming -
obedience to traffic rules by road answers suggest that they natural factors,
users. are willing to comply unreasonable offenders,etc.
B. Recommendations of the with the rules and There would also be an
Stakeholders regulations in place, but increase of imparted
The following are the proposed they find it difficult to do confidence and security on
improvements to the traffic so if the law enforcers the stakeholders’ end
management system by the tricycle themselves are not fully assuring that they have the
drivers: conduct additional trainings equipped with the capacity to be part of the
and seminars for the traffic enforcers, knowledge and skills in service industry.
vehicle class segregation in particular traffic management.
roads, and impose stricter sanctions for Many of their
pedestrian/driver violations recommendations suggest
Moreover, the jeepney drivers believe that they also want to
that vehicle class segregation in have a more responsive
particular roads, conducting additional and equitable traffic
seminars and training for the traffic management system for
enforcers, and crafting of intensified their convenience.
urban policies and programs for road
management by LGU can improve the
traffic management system in
Sorsogon City.
As for the pedestrians, the
following are the recommended
mechanisms for action: place
additional traffic signs, vehicle class
segregation in particular roads, and
impose stricter sanctions for
pedestrian/driver violations.