Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has asked the help of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ease the worsening traffic in the city through the use of its traffic simulation software.
“Kinausap ko na si [MMDA Chairman] General (Danny) Lim kasi natatagalan ang team nila (I have talked to General Danny Lim). I asked if they can give us priority, they will come the last week of this month and they will bring with them the traffic simulation software,” Magalong said.
The MMDA software simulates traffic conditions by analyzing given inputs and the impact in can have on other road systems in one or several areas, he said.
“There has to be a scientific basis in addressing traffic.”
Magalong said observation alone is not enough in implementing traffic schemes, noting that there has to be a scientific basis in addressing traffic congestion.
“There will be gathering of data that will be entered in the system. It will analyze the information and intervention as well as its impact to other roads so that you can properly plan what you need to do,” he said.
Magalong said he had ordered the purchase of computer-controlled traffic lights, worth P30 million, that would replace the old ones.
Among the plans to ease traffic flow in Baguio City include road widening, demolition of structures encroaching public roads, and re-planning the metric designs of islands, said Magalong.
“Road widening is critical.”
Magalong said there will be road widening from Police Station 5 to Sta. Catalina is critical, including the Naguilian Road from Camp Allen to Cooyeesan.
Magalong added that the Department of Public Works and Highways had allotted an initial fund of P100 million for the city’s projects starting this year.