BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya—This town’s age-old Municipal Land Use Plan is a major contributor of its slow economic development and heavy traffic along the national highway.
Lloyd Valdez, former secretary to the Sangguniang Bayan, said this town’s MLUP has not been updated for years and is not properly implemented, to pave the way for more spacious and accessible roads.
He cited the presence of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association zones, which are visibly seen occupying huge road spaces in most corners of the national highway.
“There is a problem on traffic management here because all vehicles, including motorcycles, are using the national highway while other cars are also left to park alongside the road,” he said.
Valdez said the new MLUP should also take serious consideration on the growing number of tricycles plying the national highway.
He said one of the perceived solutions and recommendations was the rerouting of tricycles, preventing them from using the national highway and the establishment of jeepney and tricycle terminals inside the town proper.
Valdez also said the old MLUP has been preventing investors in pouring their business interest in the municipality because of fear of illegal conversion cases and violating proper zoning regulations.
“Once investors see proper implementation of zoning and traffic regulations, they will be inspired to do business in our town,” he said.
Because of the heavy traffic, Valdez said provincial and municipal officials in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways have proposed a By-Pass Road Project to serve as an alternate road among commuters passing through the municipality.
“This is now being studied by DPWH, in fact, a feasibility study is on the way for funding and implementation,” Valdez said.
A similar project, he added will also be done in Solano town which is also experiencing a similar traffic problem.
Governor Carlos Padilla said he also suggested the extension of the proposed By Road Projects to include the development of alternate road from barangay Batu Ferry to the Poblacion in Bayombong town.
He said this will address the traffic problem once the old Batu Ferry Bridge will collapse due to rampaging river flow.
“This alternate road will be used once our major route along the national highway will be cut, thereby providing a continuous flow of traffic among our commuters,” Padilla said.