City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) head Dioniso Abude said that enough information drive was conducted before Saturday’s road closure that caused a heavy traffic jam in the downtown Davao.
Netizens slammed the CTTMO for allegedly imposing the advisory on a short notice.
But Abude said that the closure of the major streets for the Banda Dasig and the Sayaw Pasko activities were announced a month earlier on CTTMO’s social media account.
“We already had the traffic plan approved by the traffic council,” Abude said.
He also said that areas closed during the event were the same as those closed during the Araw ng Dabaw and Kadayawan festival, except that Banda Dasig and the Sayaw Pasko were conducted in the evening.
Areas closed during the event were Roxas Avenue, C.M. Recto Avenue, Bonifacio Street, Pelayo Street and San Pedro Street, which form part of the city’s Central Business District area.
“On our part, we had complied with the requirement that no vehicles should park on the areas closed,” Abude said.
He said that they were able to tow down eight motorcycles and a private car during the clearing operation.
Abude said that they immediately opened some areas after the tail of the parade had already passed.
He blamed the Christmas holiday rush as one factor that might have caused the traffic jam in the city.
Among the affected areas were in Quimpo Boulevard, McArthur Highway and J.P. Laurel Avenue.
Abude said he will be suggesting to move the event next year to People’s Park in order for the traffic not to happen again.
Banda Dasig and the Sayaw Pasko are one of the highlights of the Pasko Fiesta 2018, organized by the city government.
CTTMO is now preparing for the Torotot Festival, happening on December 31 at Rizal Park.
Affected areas for the event will be from C.M. Recto Avenue corner San Pedro Street, Bolton Street corner Rizal Street, Ponciano Street corner Rizal Street and Pichon Street corner Bolton Street.
