JAX Development Partners

Rather than addressing the gaps on road crashes, the transportation department’s regional enforcement efforts remain focused primarily on apprehensions and penalties – diverting resources from fixing broken road markings, improving intersection design, or expanding safe pathways for non-motorized transport. In Butuan City alone, traffic bottlenecks at key junctions like the Libertad Roundabout and Montilla Boulevard persist, while no data-driven adjustments have been made to accommodate new transport modes.

As Caraga works to boost economic growth and improve quality of life for its residents, the transportation agency’s failure to prioritize evidence-based planning, effective program implementation, and infrastructure tailored to our region’s needs is a major barrier. We call on the DOTr’s Caraga Regional Office and national leadership to take immediate action – shifting focus from fines to research, modernization, and solutions that will build a safe, efficient, and future-ready transportation system for Agusan Del Norte and the entire Caraga Region.