Businessmen along Lacson St. oppose flyover construction
BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Roberto Rojas, Chairperson of the Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works, confirmed yesterday that most businessmen along Lacson Road vehemently oppose the construction of two flyovers along North Drive-Lacson and Burgos - Lacson streets as it will only worsen the present traffic situation.
This sentiment expressed by various business groups and leaders were heard during the public hearing conducted by Rojas last Tuesday afternoon.
He urged the businessmen to draft a position paper why they were against the construction of the flyover in said areas so that it would be conveyed to the National Government.
Bacolod businessmen JV Tanpinco believes that the construction of flyover cannot solve the traffic problem at the intersection because most taxi drivers and jeepney drivers pick-up passengers in the middle of the street that cause traffic congestion.
"We are not against development but if possible this flyover will be transferred to other places and not along North Drive-Lacson and Burgos-Lacson," Tanpinco said.
He also believed that instead of solving the problem, the putting up of flyover will worsen the traffic problem in the city particularly along Lacson Street.
On the other, SP Member Wilson Gamboa Jr. agrees to the contention and observation of the Bacolod businessmen. Gamboa posed a challenges to the national government that before implementing this project, it is better that the national road will be subjected to engineering works just like widening the road from four to six lanes.
He also believed that one contributory factor why we cannot solve the traffic problem is because most drivers are undisciplined in terms of traffic rules and regulation.
Gamboa suggested that the national government will look for other areas if most businessmen along Lacson is against the project.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo is very open to the suggestion that if the boring test conducted needs to be stopped, then the business community will draft its position letter so that they could advise the contractor to temporarily hold in abeyance the flyover project.