Independence Day celeb snarls city traffic, leaves commuters confused
Sirens and non-stop blowing of horns were heard at the height of yesterday’s Independence Day celebration in Iloilo City. With provincial delegates in floats participating as well, order of the parade also turned seemingly confusing, both for the participants and the watching-public.
About 2 p.m., one lane in the stretch of General Luna street was closed to traffic while other incoming lane was opened. Amused crowd of onlookers by Atrium mall watched the passing band across the street dressed in bright red band uniforms. Barely a foot away from the last row, passenger jeepneys, taxis and private cars inched their way while those in the farther end honked their horns non-stop.
A few meters by the stretch of Iznart Street heading towards the Capitol, yet another group of delegates marched its way in. The flag bearers though appeared at a loss as sudden traffic emerged, private cars and passenger jeepneys suddenly blocked its way.
The long stretch of Ledesma Street was also closed starting from Tanza Esperanza where delegates from southern towns converge.
Vehicles passing Lopez Jaena Street, Molo were made to turn left to Infante Street causing snail-pace traffic in the entire stretch of Lopez Jaena.
For at least 30 minutes, traffic was bumper to bumper all throughout the stretch of Promenade area facing the Iloilo River. And to make matters worse, a fire call was made in Arevalo that had one responding firetruck caught in the middle of the traffic jam.
The confusion was apparently caused by the various converging points of the parade delegates that had commuters and passenger jeepneys look for "to-each-his-own" alternate routes.
Onlookers asked for reaction similarly expressed surprise on the parade while those waiting for public transport were disgusted over the lack of public announcement on the changes in routes.
A Fifth Grader asked the same quipped, "this is really confusing. I thought Independence Day was moved last Monday!"
No announcement of any traffic rerouting was heard until Wednesday night. Radio commentator John Paul Tia of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo even chided officials of the Traffic Management and Engineering Unit in his Firing Line program for the late announcement apparently seeing it would cause confusion among motorists and the public.
"Kulang sa preparasyon. Sobra pa ni sa trapik tuga sang Dinagyang (It seems there's lack of preparation. This is worse than the traffic during Dinagyang Festival)," said one irate driver of a public utility jeepney.