THE Cagayan de Oro City Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) will be holding traffic dry-runs in the coming days to prepare motorists for the opening of a mall along CM Recto Avenue which is expected to worsen the already heavy traffic in the area.
The RTA will be implementing a new traffic scheme which will include the strict implementation of a no-parking policy along CM Recto and its adjacent streets.
But owners of small autoparts businesses along the affected streets where the new traffic scheme will be implemented are worried of decreased sales because of the new traffic policy.
PJ Antonio, manager of a 12-year-old automotive shop located in CM Recto, said the strict implementation could affect their daily sales.
He said they are already experiencing lack of parking spaces for their customers as of now.
"Now what if they will be so strict, we might lose customers, because our business really needs a parking space for it to be alive," Antonio said.
Antonio added that they had to ask the store beside them to allow them to park in the mornings and afternoons, and in exchange, the store can also use their shop's parking space during nights until dawn.
The RTA should conduct consultations for the affected stores in the area, Antonio said, as they too, are business establishments which deserve fair treatment.
Joey Balmorie, who operates a car parts business for 32 years along Osmeña Street, said that currently, their customers had to park across the street, and not in front of their store.
"Makaapekto gayud na siya kay among customer, dili na gyud maka-parking diha, pero kay mao man gyud ilang balaod, so wala mi choice dawaton nalang namo. Pero kung makahangyo lang na bisan gamay lang nga parking space okay na gyud na para sa amo (We will really be affected with their new policy, but if that is really the rule there, then we have no choice but to follow it. But if we can ask them to give us even just a small parking area near our shop, that would be really okay)," Balmorie said.
Jade Quizon, who operates a surplus auto spare parts, said when the RTA implements the no-parking policy, they will have no choice but to follow it.
He said customers nowadays are usually understanding about the situation.
"They are very understanding. This is not the case when we first operated 15 years ago, but since this is now the situation, we will really need to adapt to it," he added.
He said the customers will have to adjust and not bringing their vehicles with them when they visit his shop.
RTA chief lawyer Edgardo Uy, for his part, said the dry run is only temporary and assured the affected businesses that their side will be heard.
"We understand them, this is only temporary, and of course there's a price to pay for development. Like the drainage construction in that area, the residents there are sacrificing, because in the long run, they can benefit from this development, they should see it this way," Uy said.
"Also, this is only dry-run, so we ask the businesses to bear with us temporarily. Anyway if we see no problem with the parking in the area, we won't implement the no parking policy. If this is finalized, we can assure them that all businesses will gain from this development," he added.
Uy earlier said that RTA will no longer allow left turns for those coming in and out of the mall and strictly implement a no parking policy along Osmeña Street.
He added that barriers will also be installed in the middle of the highway to prevent motorists from turning left especially those coming from Lapasan village.
The RTA is also mulling limiting the number of motor taxis or locally known as motorelas passing through Osmeña. Initially, Uy proposed that all motorelas should not be allowed along Osmeña Street but was prevailed upon to allow Agora liners along this stretch of road.
The whole Osmeña stretch will be a no parking zone as well as parts of Gaabucayan, Agudo, and Captain Vicente Roa Streets.
To date, the RTA is still conducting meetings with the mall management when to implement the dry run for the new traffic scheme.
