By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite the installation of pedestrian traffic lights and additional street lighting along Iloilo Sunset Boulevard following a string of vehicular accidents, some of which resulted in fatalities.
In a March 3 letter to DPWH-Western Visayas regional director Sanny Boy Oropel, Treñas emphasized the urgent need for safety measures on the 5-kilometer, four-lane road, which opened in January 2024.
“It has come to our attention that there were several motor vehicular accidents and pedestrian-related incidents along circumferential roads located at the boundaries of Mandurriao, Jaro, and Villa districts,” the mayor wrote.
The most recent fatality involved 26-year-old motorcyclist Jonazardo Abong, who sustained severe head and body injuries in a February 27 crash in Sooc, Arevalo. He succumbed to his injuries on March 1 after two days in the hospital.
Treñas attributed the accidents to the absence of pedestrian traffic lights and inadequate street lighting, stressing the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life.
“As the father of the city, I cannot bear witness to another incident involving our constituents, especially the untimely death of one motorist,” he said.
The mayor also requested the construction of additional lay-bys, parking areas, and road safety signage to improve traffic management and reduce risks.
In a separate statement, Treñas directed the Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) to intensify monitoring in the area and implement immediate measures to prevent further accidents.
The city government has committed to installing four solar-powered floodlights at key intersections to enhance visibility.
“We will not take this lightly. We will do everything necessary to make our roads safer,” Treñas said.
Meanwhile, the mayor confirmed speaking with Oropel, who assured him that the DPWH regional office had the funds and would fast-track the installation of traffic lights and other safety measures.
Treñas also sought approval from the City Peace and Order Council to request six new police cars from the Department of the Interior and Local Government to bolster road safety enforcement.
The mayor’s office has pledged assistance to Abong’s family.
The 4.99-kilometer Sunset Boulevard, which opened earlier this year, connects R. Mapa Street in Mandurriao district to Pakiad Road in Oton, Iloilo. It intersects the 14.8-kilometer President Corazon Aquino Avenue, a major thoroughfare opened in 2014 that links Iloilo City to neighboring towns.
Treñas expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety of motorists and pedestrians, urging the public to follow traffic rules while the city implements these improvements.
