E-trike driver backs Leni’s drive to ease Naga’s traffic congestion

E-TRIKE driver Lionel Bandojo has called on his fellow public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to rally behind the initiative of Mayor Leni Robredo to address the city’s worsening traffic congestion.

Bandojo expressed confidence that the upcoming Transport and Mobility Summit will pave the way for the institutionalization of workable and efficient solutions to the traffic problem. The summit is scheduled on Saturday, January 31, at the BISCAST Student Pavilion, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

He said he is “100 percent supportive” of the city mayor’s plan to convene a multi-sector summit that will bring together all stakeholders in the transport sector.

Bandojo said he trusts that one of the key issues to be addressed during the summit is the common practice of some PUV drivers lingering too long at loading zones, which obstructs other vehicles and causes traffic congestion.

“Aside from that, other PUVs tend to follow suit by picking up passengers even outside designated loading zones,” he said.

The summit will also tackle the identification of appropriate parking areas for motorcycles and cars, the designation of safe spaces and sidewalks for pedestrians, and the allocation of proper areas for street vendors.

Meanwhile, a punong barangay has expressed his all-out support for the city mayor’s no-nonsense campaign to avoid traffic congestion on streets, particularly along the city’s busiest thoroughfares such as Peñafrancia Avenue, known as the city’s university belt.

Punong Barangay Jacky Villafuerte relayed his support through the ANN Express, the city government’s official news channel that features programs, projects, and advocacies of the local government.

The city mayor has been pushing for comprehensive reforms in the traffic management of transport vehicles within the city to ease congestion and improve road safety, especially in high-density areas frequented by students, commuters, and motorists.

Villafuerte said the summit is expected to pave the way for innovative solutions to the city’s worsening traffic situation through consultations with multi-sector stakeholders.

Among the proposals to be discussed during the summit is the provision of a subsidy for passenger jeepney drivers who are required to leave designated loading zones even if they have not reached the full number of passengers due to imposed time limits.

The city government said the subsidy plan aims to discourage drivers from staying too long in loading zones, a practice that often causes congestion as public utility vehicles and private cars crowd the same areas.

On January 27, Villafuerte joined a city government–commissioned group that conducted an ocular inspection along Peñafrancia Avenue to identify ideal locations for loading and unloading zones, as well as areas for car and motorcycle parking.

Villafuerte also expressed his willingness to meet with the city mayor to further discuss traffic-related concerns and other issues affecting the welfare and well-being of his constituents.