The local government unit (LGU) of Sto. Tomas, Batangas is teaming up with First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) of the Lopez Group to address the city’s worsening traffic congestion.
“Traffic not only affects local residents but also the productivity of our locators. FPIP, as a part of the local community, will do its part to help improve the situation” said FPIP vice president and external affairs head Ricky Carandang.
FPIP teamed up with DB Bautista Engineering Consultancy (DBB Engineering), a transportation and urban planning firm to identify effective solutions.
DBB Engineering will conduct a comprehensive study on traffic flow and vehicle movement in Sto. Tomas. The study will focus on key thoroughfares, particularly the Maharlika Highway, and propose measures to improve traffic flow in the area.
While the comprehensive traffic study is underway, FPIP, DBB Engineering and the Sto. Tomas City Engineering and Planning Department collaborated on a traffic management seminar for local officials and traffic enforcers.
The seminar assessed the skills and knowledge of traffic enforcers and other on-ground personnel at the barangay levels, as it identifies gaps in the city’s current traffic management practices and procedures.
Based on the assessment, the seminar offered recommendations for best practices and corrective actions to improve traffic management effectiveness.
“The usual road-clearing and other practices are no longer working for us in Sto Tomas. We have to do more and think of innovative solutions to ease our traffic situation. We want our traffic enforcers to be agile and be able to adjust management depending on actual conditions, and to professionalize our traffic enforcement practice by developing technical knowledge and practical approaches,” said Sto. Tomas City Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan.
The FPIP, spanning 349 hectares across Sto. Tomas and neighboring Tanauan, Batangas, houses over 140 locator-companies from various industries, ranging from aerospace to office equipment.
These companies employ over 70,000 workers directly and generate thousands of indirect jobs in support and allied services.