Off-limits
Public vehicles warned vs using coastal road to escape traffic
THE CITY Traffic and Transportation Management Office (CTTMO) warned public utility vehicles (PUV) drivers against diverting from their regular routes and using the newly opened Davao City Coastal Road.
On Monday, CTTMO head Dionisio Abude told the media that his office deployed personnel to monitor the eight-kilometer stretch from Bago Aplaya to Tulip Drive to regulate traffic and ensure road safety.
Abude said the mild traffic experienced on the coastal road over the weekend following its inauguration is bound to dwindle over time as fewer motorists and pedestrians flock to the area for sightseeing.
“Pipila pa ka adlaw siguro karon medyo ubay-ubay pa ang muadto didto kay magpicture-picture, so mao pud na atong ginamonitor pud nato (In the next few days we still expect a considerable number of people to take pictures there so we are also monitoring that),” he said.
However, Abude said traffic can still build up as public jeepneys, buses and tricycles might bypass their designated routes and use the coastal road.
Jeepneys and buses apprehended for trip-cutting through the coastal road will be referred to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to settle their offense.
“Ginapa-monitor nato basi naa na pud mag-short cut na mga PUJs, especially gikan sa Toril unya wala silay pasahero sa Bangkal-Matina diretso na diri sa downtown, so pwede sila muagi didto pero ipa-monitor nato og ato gyud silang i-refer sa LTFRB (We are monitoring PUJs, especially those from Toril with no passengers in Bangkal-Matina all the way to downtown so they may want to take the coastal road, but we have that monitored and we will really refer them to the LTFRB),” said Abude.
The CTTMO has started apprehending tricycles on the coastal road and reiterated that these types of vehicles are not allowed on national highways.
The CTTMO chief also urged pedestrians to follow traffic regulations along the coastal road.
“Na-recommend man gud nato na dinha na para sa mga pedestrians naay pedestrian lane. In fact, gi-emphasize nato didto na bawal ang skating, dapat ang mag-bike didto ug mag-jog, confined lang gyud didto sa bike lane (We recommended a pedestrian lane for our pedestrians. In fact, we have emphasized that skating is prohibited, and that cyclists and joggers must remain confined in the bike lane),” said Abude.
