OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines — Stakeholders have been invited to a focus group discussion (FGD) on transport and traffic management in connection with the study commissioned by the Olongapo City Government.

The city government has sought the assistance of the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) to formulate a comprehensive transportation and traffic management plan for Olongapo City.

The UP-NCTS will facilitate the FDG on January 25 at the Olongapo City Convention Center. In the FGD, UP-NCTS will listen to the concerns and suggestions of stakeholders that will be weighed and considered by the UP-NCTS to formulate comprehensive solutions to traffic problems.

Councilor James “Bugsy” delos Reyes, Committee on Transportation and Traffic Management chairman explained that under the agreement, the UP-NCTS will assess the existing traffic conditions in the city through the compilation of primary and secondary data and identify traffic measures and alternatives to design an efficient traffic circulation plan .

Early January 2012, representatives of the UP-NCTS conducted a meeting with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) and Office of Transportation Management and Public Safety (OTMPS) to consider expected traffic congestion relative to the upcoming peak season.

According to the initial surveys of CPDO and OTMPS, the advent of investors will increase tourist transportation services and on-street parking, which will cause congestion in traffic.

UP-NCTS also conducted an initial inspection of the Kalaklan River and Pier B in Barretto as part of its feasibility study of water-based transportation in Olongapo City.