FORMER President Rodrigo R. Duterte underscored the need to deploy more traffic personnel to address Davao City’s worsening traffic congestion.
Speaking at the Basta Dabawenyo Christmas Special, Duterte urged residents to endure the current traffic challenges temporarily. He noted that traffic lights alone are insufficient and that the city needs more personnel to actively manage the streets, particularly during rush hours.
“That is a solution we might want to consider—more human, more warm bodies to man the traffic during peak hours,” he said.
Duterte said that traffic personnel should be consistently stationed along heavily congested roads to regulate the flow of vehicles. He highlighted that even a minor car accident could significantly disrupt traffic in the city.
“Manpower is what is needed at the moment. We will try to solve the problem,” he said.
He explained that expanding major roads like San Pedro Street or demolishing buildings to widen streets is not a viable option for the city. Instead, he suggested the possibility of building satellite cities, similar to how Metro Manila developed areas like Makati and Quezon City. However, he acknowledged that this solution would take time to implement.
The former president also pointed out that the traffic congestion reflects the city’s development, which extends beyond Davao City to its neighboring areas. However, he admitted that the city’s infrastructure struggles to keep up with this growth. He emphasized the need to better manage traffic within the city’s current limitations.
Duterte proposed requesting the Philippine National Police (PNP) to assign an additional 50 to 75 personnel to the traffic division. He also stressed the importance of providing proper training for these personnel and allocating a budget for the initiative.
Duterte appealed for patience from Dabawenyos, asking for time to implement a long-term solution to the traffic issue. While acknowledging that the fix would not be immediate, he assured the public that it would be put in place as soon as possible.
Davao City has long faced traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours, with residents frequently raising concerns about increased travel times. RGP
