Motorists participating in the activation of the traffic light system installed along intersection of E-Rovira to Leopoldo Rovira East Drive in Barangay Bantayan, Dumaguete City on Feb. 17, 2025. (KAT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – Officers of the city’s Traffic Management Office (TMO) will concentrate on apprehending motorists violating traffic rules once the installation of city’s hi-tech traffic light system in major junctions have been completed.
City Management Office Head Danny Atillo said the city’s traffic light systems would relieve traffic enforcers from their duties in directing the flow of vehicles and pedestrians on major streets and would enable them to go after violators of traffic regulations.
“Dili na tinuod na wala nay trabaho ang enforcer. Madaghan na nuon tungod sa daghan na kaayo vilators na atimanon kay naa naman ga-control sa intersection – ang traffic lights,” Atillo said.
(It’s not true that traffic enforcers will no longer have to work. Actually, it will increase because we will be apprehending traffic violators because there is now a device controlling the intersections and these are the traffic lights.)
Atillo together with other city officials observed the activation and pilot testing of the city’s first traffic lights in the intersection of E-Rovira to Leopoldo Rovira East Drive in Barangay Bantayan on February 17, 2025.
The City Public Information Office said the traffic light city project was funded by the Department of Transportation through the Land Transportation Office Traffic Management Mentorship Program (TMMAP) Component B Traffic Signalization and Installation of Systems.
The traffic light system was composed of 4 traffic signal controllers and signal heads, pedestrian light, traffic control panel and vehicle detection cameras that can detect both stationary and moving vehicles.
The city government also appropriated P22 million for the installation of traffic lights.
The city government plans to install additional traffic lights in 20 other locations in the city. Fifteen of which will be put in the downtown area and five along Dumaguete Diversion Road.
Once all the traffic lights have been installed in their location, all cameras will be connected to a monitoring room inside the city hall.
Atillo said the city government conducted the testing of the traffic lights in the area because of its proximity to North Point Area which is a hub for local restaurants and casual diners and to St. Paul University Dumaguete. Because of this, many vehicles are passing through this area especially in the afternoon and at night.
In view of this, the TMO will intensify its education campaign on adherence traffic rules and regulations to motorists and the traffic lights especially since Dumagueteños are not yet used to having traffic lights around the city.
“Ato lang ipasunod sa atong mga motorista ang tanang mga lagda nato, mga one way, ato na sundon. Tanang mga ginadili na parking anha mga sidewalk para malikayan nato ang ticket labi na ron na naa tay traffic light. Ato edukaron ang mga motorista nga observe namo,” Atillo said.
(We will intensify the enforcement of our traffic regulations to our motorists. We urge them to adhere to one way signs, avoid parking along sidewalks, among others to avoid getting citation tickets especially now that we have started the installation of our traffic lights. We will educate them to observe these rules thoroughly.) (RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
