LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government earmarked some P3 million from its annual budget to facilitate the immediate repair of the various traffic lights installed in strategic areas in the municipality to synchronize their operations and serve their prescribed purpose.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda said the funds were allocated following the recommendation of the Municipal Traffic Board for the immediate repair of the traffic lights considering the confusion posed to the motorists, especially as these are not synchronized in their operations which tend to worsen the traffic congestions in the municipality.
The municipal chief executive claimed that the municipal engineer can still invite the Korean technical personnel who installed the traffic lights along the junction of Pico road and the Halsema highway along Km. 5 to repair and synchronize the operation of the traffic lights thereat but it would be better if the Koreans could provide the municipal government with the English translation of the instructions so that it will be easier for the technical people of the municipal government to repair these.
Motorists had been bringing to the attention of local officials the confusion caused by the non-synchronized operation of the traffic lights which had been identified as one of the major causes of the monstrous traffic jams within the center of the municipality.
According to him, the Municipal Traffic Board is also studying the possibility of updating the traffic lights installed in the different parts of the municipality to ensure their operations are synchronized and to contribute in reducing traffic congestions along road intersections.
He appealed to the residents and tourists inconvenienced by the traffic congestions along major roads in the municipality to bear with the present problem because the municipal government is studying all appropriate measures on how to effectively and efficiently address the current situation because these solutions involve various government line agencies and offices of the municipal government.
Mayor Salda reported that the municipal government is conducting regular consultations with concerned stakeholders to solicit their suggestions and recommendations on how to deal with the traffic problem so that the traffic woes of motorists will be addressed.
Traffic congestion is one of the major problems of the municipality because of the limited number of entry and exit points aside from the huge volume of vehicles that traverse along the roads considering that it is an urban center like nearby Baguio City.
La Trinidad is also being groomed as a component city of Benguet being its capital town and the center of trade and commerce in the province as it hosts various private and public vegetable trading areas catering to the trading needs of the traders and farmers alike.
