CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Motorists and commuters can expect stricter road clearing operations across the city after Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy ordered local agencies and barangays to intensify efforts to remove road obstructions and illegal parking in a bid to ease traffic congestion.
Speaking during Monday's flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, Uy said roads cannot be effectively decongested if they continue to be used as parking areas or occupied by illegal structures that reduce road space.
"Dili ma-decongest ang trapiko kung ang kadalanan gihimo na nga parkingan ug grahian, hinungdan nga dili mawala ang kapiot sa kadalanan ug kabarangayan," the mayor said.
Uy directed the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) and the Regulatory Compliance Board (RCB) to immediately resume road clearing operations in line with the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) road clearing memorandum.
He also asked Association of Barangay Captains president and City Councilor Marlo Tabac to ensure barangays strictly enforce road clearing measures within their respective communities.
To strengthen enforcement, Uy said he would request Cagayan de Oro City Police Office Director Col. Dexter Paje to deploy police personnel to assist road clearing teams if they encounter resistance during operations.
The intensified campaign follows the RTA's three-day Traffic Information and Education Campaign (IEC), which began on July 30, to inform commuters, motorists, drivers, operators, and conductors about the enforcement of Section 120 of City Ordinance No. 10551-2007, particularly regulations on illegal parking.
The information drive was conducted in major roads and transport terminals across the city to help the public understand the revised traffic rules before stricter enforcement.
RTA Department Manager Engr. Nonito Oclarit said the ordinance aims to reduce traffic congestion in the city center and improve traffic flow.
Oclarit said traffic conditions already showed signs of improvement following the announcement that the CDO route shake-up: Traffic dry run begins on July 27, with authorities observing lighter congestion on key roads. Alongside the information campaign, RTA personnel also warned erring drivers and issued citation tickets to motorists found violating parking regulations as part of the city's continuing traffic enforcement efforts.
Alongside the information campaign, RTA personnel also warned erring drivers and issued citation tickets to motorists found violating parking regulations as part of the city's continuing traffic enforcement efforts.
Uy urged residents, motorists, and business owners to cooperate, saying the renewed road clearing drive is intended to keep roads passable, improve traffic flow, and make public streets safer and more accessible for everyone.
The campaign comes as CDO launches 1-month traffic dry run to ease congestion across major thoroughfares, implementing changes to public utility vehicle routes and terminal operations as the city seeks long-term solutions to its worsening traffic problem. (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
