SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – The Ilocos Region will launch a Traffic Management Strategy (TMS) during the first quarter of 2023 with the vision of improved transportation and accelerated development.

The first leg of launching will be staged in La Union in April.

The formulation of the Traffic Management Strategy was through Resolution No. 49 series of 2018 approved by the Regional Development Council in June 2019.

According to Kathleen Deanna Salayog, officer-in-charge of the Land Transportation Office who chairs the TMS Technical Working Group (TWG), the supposed implementation was impeded for more than two years by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Matagal na natulog ang TMS but to reiterate our goal, we aim to have uniformed policies and processes on transportation to be implemented in the region from national government agencies down to the local government units,” Salayog said.

Salayog noted the vital role of sound and effective traffic management to the country’s economy and development.

The TMS will be a strategic framework which aims to address the issues, gaps, and challenges on transportation in the region thus contributing to push forward accelerated and inclusive growth; reduced travel time and production cost; improved connectivity; and enhanced mobility of people and goods.

Strategies will encompass various aspects of engineering, enforcement and enactment, environment, evaluation, and education.

Issues and concerns on road transport and behavior of road users, as well as on institutional aspects were gathered through the conduct of a series of public consultations.

The TWG is working double to further enhance the overall framework before its launching as there may be changes on some factors affecting concepts since its implementation was put on hold for more than two years. (JCR/AMB/CGRC/PIA Region 1)