Assessment of Traffic Congestion in Sta.Cruz, Zamboanga City: Implication forPublic Policy and Urban Planning

Abstract

Traffic congestion has become an increasingly persistent challenge in rapidly urbanizing areas of the Philippines, affecting daily mobility, productivity, and overall quality of life. While much of the existing literature focuses on metropolitan centers, limited attention has been given to traffic conditions at the barangay level, particularly in secondary cities such as Zamboanga City. This study examines the extent and causes of traffic congestion in Sta. Cruz, Zamboanga City, and evaluates its implications for public policy and urban planning. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combined survey data from 30 road users with key informant interviews involving Barangay officials, LTFRB, ZCTMO. Purposive sampling was employed to ensure that participants possessed direct experience with traffic conditions and governance in the study area. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. Findings reveal that traffic congestion in Sta. Cruz is moderate but frequent, with congestion occurring most often during afternoon peak hours along main roads and market areas. Narrow road networks, inadequate road design, illegal parking, weak traffic discipline, and limited enforcement capacity emerged as the primary contributors to congestion. Although traffic policies are in place, their effectiveness is constrained by uneven implementation, inconsistent inter-agency coordination, and low public compliance. The results further indicate that congestion negatively affects residents’ mobility, productivity, and confidence in local governance. Based on these findings, the study recommends integrated public policy and urban planning interventions, including targeted road widening and bottleneck redesign, stricter and more consistent traffic enforcement, strengthened inter-agency coordination, barangay-level traffic management planning, and community-based traffic discipline programs. These localized and evidence-based strategies aim to promote sustainable mobility and improve traffic governance in Sta. Cruz, with potential applicability to similar urban barangays in secondary Philippine cities.