BAGUIO CITY — A new traffic scheme in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan which took effect Monday has irked residents and businesses as it led to more disarray, instead of easing traffic.
A newly implemented traffic ordinance on the use of Caviganan St. in Barangay Poblacion, Urdaneta City has turned into a “bottle neck†with more vehicles getting stalled in the area.
Photos and videos on various social media pages show tricycles, motorcycles and larger motor vehicles having difficulties in passing through the street.
Local vegetable vendors and small-town market businessmen complain they are no longer allowed to unload their goods near their market stalls at the Caviganan “Bagsakan†at Aruego St. and must look for parking slots which are far.
They added that with the new traffic scheme, they are forced to hire porters to bring their goods to their stalls, adding more cost to them.
Outspoken critics said suggestions and comments on the ordinance were aired during the public consultation conducted by Urdaneta City Mayor Julio F. Parayno III on April 2024 but were never considered.
During the consultation, it was also agreed to ban buses and jeeps from passing at the one-way lane at Caviganan area.
But upon implementation, a photograph posted on Facebook Page Urdaneta SPOT showed a bus stalled in traffic at the intersection in one of the streets designated for the buses, blocking other vehicles thus causing a traffic “bottle neck.†— Artemio A. Dumlao
