Iloilo City needs P500T for int'l traffic signs
The City Government needs P500,000 to install international traffic signs in an effort to address the perennial traffic congestion in the metropolis.
Councilor Erwin Plagata, who chairs the committee on transportation, said the traffic management's Technical Working Group (TWG) requires such fund for signages, floor markings and printing of PUJ car passes to better regulate heavy traffic in the city's main streets.
"The PUJ car passes should be renewed after six months. This is because only after two months from the issuance, we have apprehended several jeepney drivers who faked the car passes. We have recommended the filing of cases against 40 violators," he said.
The car passes are issued to provincial jeepneys to limit their entry into the city's busy thoroughfares to lessen the volume of vehicular traffic.
The City Council recently approved P100,000 fund for TWG included in the P73-million supplemental budget.
Plagata said the amount is only good for 30 international traffic signs even as the city requires 600 to 700 traffic signs.
"The traffic signs have advertisements as donated by the business sector and are not of international standard. We have convinced the mayor to allocate funds because it's tiring to always ask from donors," said Plagata.
He explained, "The traffic signs that we have now cannot be understood by outsiders. We have to use the guides from the International Booklet on Traffic Signs".
Plagata said the increase in traffic penalties has generated an income of P1 million a month compared to P300,000 a month before.
He said the revenues coming from traffic fines could be used for a sustainable program on traffic management. (PNA)