Proposed CdeO Transport Master Plan under review

THE City Council committee on planning and development chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya yesterday discussed the proposed Cagayan de Oro City Transport Master Plan (TMP).

As presented by Col. Rizalino Borlagdatan and Engr. Avalyn Andresan Cahulogan, RTA Department Head and Chairman of the Traffic Management Board (TMB), respectively, the TMP was laid out and approved by the board members, composed of representatives from the different departments of the city

government of Cagayan de Oro.

Engr. Cahulugan said the plan was submitted to the Office of the City Administrator. “That was in 2019 and now it’s already 2021 but I think it’s not yet too late although there are major final outputs that should have been done in 2020 pero wala gyud nangabuhat ang uban (due to the pandemic),” she reported.

With the help of the RTA, Cahulogan said the TMP’s strategic plan and activities may still be extracted and incorporated with the individual targets of the different departments of the city government. The data and chapters of the TMP were all compiled by the TIPC and submitted to the city mayor, she further cited.

It was learned that the TMP is anchored on the policy of decentralization, to create centers away from the central business districts, provide alternative business locations and at the same time bring work closer to home, among others.

It is also geared towards achieving an Efficient Transport System through the use of some modern, multi-modal, interconnected and environmentally-friendly transportation mediums.

The study revealed the growing population and the fast economic growth of the city where a total of 1.3 million trips were recorded within a day.

“Kagayanons move around, as recorded with the HIS (Home Interview Service) survey. Mao na nga gaka traffic plus our infrastructure is very deficient, gagmay ug kulang ta’g mga dalan. In fact with the scarce infrastructure, mao nga grabe atong problema sa traffic like congestion,” Cahulogan added.

With these findings and other considerations, the use of Land Rail Transport (LRT) System and Gondola, a means of cable transport and type of aerial lift supported and propelled by cables, were proposed.

Noting these developments, Nacaya requested Engr. Cahulogan and RTA to coordinate with the CPDO and TIPC, particularly the PPP Board, and to check the records especially discussions that would also have an impact on the transportation sector and roads in the city. They were also advised to check pending projects under the updated Comprehensive Development Plan of the city.

“Because if there is a growth area that will be created by the city government or by a private enterprise, of course, roads will also follow. Otherwise, kung di ta mokumpas, ma traffic gyud na kung walay kumpas nga pagplano sa dalan. Kindly share the projects kay molabay raman gyud ning pandemic but our partnership with certain institution magpabilin man. In the next term, whoever will be the mayor, the city will still continue with the partnership. Whatever that was held in abeyance, perhaps there would be a continuation. I-check sad ninyo ang pending karon nga naa sa updated Comprehensive Development Plan kung asa nagpaingon, kay up to 2025 man ni siya, ug kung unsay mga plano sa dakbayan. Kay every plan kinahanglan naa gyud abay nga dalan, kung pasagdan lang nato ang mga private kumpanya nga motukod, sila ra gyud gihapon ang mohatag nato’g problema,” Nacaya pointed

out.

Another round of discussion will be scheduled as soon as the TMP gets updates from the RTA and its partner consultant.