Davao City – Not a single official in Davao City has come out in the open to condemn what apparently is fake news which claimed that this southern capital is the most congested city in the world.
The story which made headlines in various major dailies in Metro Manila however was criticized by Davao City residents and not a few visitors from Metro Manila who assailed Tom Tom Traffic Index for its false report of Davao City traffic.
The story first appeared on Facebook and was later gobbled by major Manila newspapers and Television Networks which in a kneejerk reaction mounted critical news about Davao City which had been cited as the most livable, peaceful and cleanest City in Southeast Asia.
At closer look at the picture which accompanied the Tom Tom Index report, moreover, it showed that the scene of the traffic congestion was in fact taken at Guadalupe Bridge that links Makati and Mandaluyong cities in Metro Manila. The picture showed in part portion of MRT elevated railway, a bus lane and huge advertising billboards. Davao City has none of those.
While no City officials came out with a rejoinder, some misinformed radio commentators critical of Duterte leadership swallowed the fake news.
Davao City in fact experience some traffic problems during festive events due to parades and floats but never on ordinary days. To further divert motorists from the City poblacion, a wide coastal Boulevard is partly opened but the entire stretch almost nearing completion. Another diversion road that links Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur through Davao City is also in the construction phase and will feature the longest road tunnel in the country when finished.
Just about the unaddressed problem of the City is the government’s failure to replace the traffic signalling systems which had become obsolete and just about 5 percent are functional.
