The City Traffic Management Office (CTMO) deploys traffic enforcers to vicinities of schools catering to pre-schoolers.

CTMO Head Antonio Samante said colleges and high schools only rank next in the priority, considering that students in these institutions could somehow manage how to secure themselves in crossing the streets.

Samante admitted that the CTMO is still undermanned as the city government is still hiring traffic enforcers to replace those how had been dismissed from service.

It is for this reason that the CTMO has to prioritize areas of concerns- -more attention to pre-school institutions than colleges and high schools.

Samante explained that once they would be able to hire more personnel, the CTMO may then be able to deploy enough traffic enforcers to the streets surrounding schools.

For the meantime, the CTMO requested the barangay captains to tap their peace-keepers or tanods to temporarily assist in manning the traffic in their respective areas.

Samante said the CTMO expects heavy traffic this week in the light of the opening of classes.

On the other hand, Samante said that traffic congestion is expected to get worse in coming years, considering the number of brand new vehicles released daily.

According to Samante, CTMO had recorded 400 to 500 vehicles released by car companies every month.

This includes those released by car companies from Cebu and Manila.

 Samante recommends road widening, construction of skywalk, fly over and installation of more traffic lights to ease traffic congestion.

The construction of skywalk and fly-over had already been tackled in several meetings of Sangguniang Panlungsod members.

Samanted added that lack of parking spaces in establishments and garage in residences remain the top factor in traffic congestion in the city. (with reports from John Nigel Cellacay, HNU intern)