Baluran in his privileged speech on Tuesday’s (Jan. 21) regular session said, “this statement from TTI last Jan. 16, 2025 in its entirety is totally unfair, out of context, and beyond rational proportion.”
In the said traffic survey, TTI claimed that Davao City is among the 500 cities they surveyed worldwide placed number 8th among the worst where residents took almost 45 minutes average travel time for every 10 kilometers in the city's lcapital, an equivalent to 136 hours economic lost yearly.
Baluran, however, admitted that the city has its own traffic woes and problems as every urbanized city does, considering one of the fastest- paced cities in terms of economic growth index in the world.
Baluran cited the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) Davao City had the fastest economic growth in the country, accounting for over half of Davao Region’s P1.02 trillion gross domestic product (GDP).
“The PSA in its report categorically rebutted this reckless report by TTI because common sense will tell us, that if you’re a multi-national company or even local businessmen, why would you invest in Davao City if the actual business feasibility study on traffic situation is in worst condition when they knew that a lost time is a lost profit,” Baluran said.
Baluran added that inevitably, the city experiences light to moderate traffic during rush hour, and sometimes heavy traffic if there are roadworks and accidents, however, to be tagged as one of the worst worldwide is unacceptable.
“For us Dabawenyos, this is an irresponsible newscasting with an alleged intention to blacken the image of our city,” he said.
“And to say, worse than Metro Manila? What were the parameters they were using to conclude such a reckless report,” Baluran further said.
Baluran acknowleges the efforts the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), including traffic enforcement for doing their best to have an accessible and smooth traffic flows in the city.
However, the city councilor said “whatever set-backs we are facing now in our traffic situation, we are always in the process mitigating or improving it.”
He said the city is about to open soon by pass and alternative roads to provide easy road access for the motorists.
Baluran, meanwhile asked CTTMO, Department of Public Works and Highways 11, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 to attend in the next regular session to give updates on their latest progress in traffic condition of the city, unfinished roadworks, and the lack of public transport vehicles for public commuters.
Councilor Condrado Baluran
Facebook Conversations