Christmas revelers urged to stay out of diversion road to avoid accidents

DAVAO CITY, Dec 23 (PIA) Barangay functionaries along the Bangkal-Panacan highway have been ordered to closely monitor and to reprimand those asking for Christmas gifts along the highway to avoid vehicular accidents.

City Social Services Assistant chief Liwayway Caligdong said the Bangkal-Panacan diversion is dangerous and prone to accident in the absence of traffic lights.

She said the barangay governments along the highway have to monitor closely the roadsides to prevent the people from asking alms from the motorists and consequently ensure road safety.

“We are aware of the hazards brought about by presence of many people along the road during this season.  It is the call of the barangay governments in the area to respond first to the situation,” Caligdong said.

She revealed that in the city alone, eight vehicular accidents already took toll on the lives of indigenous peoples resulting to four people killed and four others wounded.

The Traffic Management Center has controlled the speed limit on the Bangkal to Panacan highway at 60 kilometers per hour.

Caligdong also said that the number of indigenous peoples coming to the city has increased from 7,800 families in 2013 to 11,854 this year.

“The number 17,000 is more than the capacity of the eight designated areas of the city namely Toril, Mintal, Tugbok, Calinan, Matina-Aplaya, Barangay 5-A, Buhangin, and Bunawan,” Caligdong said.

She said 23 childbirths have been monitored among the indigenous peoples present in the city, 13 of which occurred in Buhangin.

Caligdong said the situation prompted Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to order the Traffic Management Center to watch closely the situation of the indigenous peoples particularly in Bunawan and Buhangin areas to keep the safe and away from the roads.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)