Flickering traffic lights in Bukidnon go viral with dance music in video

A video of blinking traffic lights accompanied by popular dance music has gone viral in the social media.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras", the video taken in Bukidnon has received mixed reactions from netizens.

Some were thrilled while others expressed concern over road safety issues, speculating that the traffic signalling system has been possibly hacked.

It turned out that the contractor of the traffic lights conducted a testing activity when the video was taken on July 28.

"Hindi pa na-turn over. Sa contractor pa 'yun. Kinaumagahan nalaman na lang namin na 'yun ang ginawa nila. Parang ginawa nilang disco light 'yung traffic light. Walang pasabi," Alejandro Larosa of the Traffic Center Operations said.

The contractor said assistance was provided to motorists who were also advised about the test that happened between 12 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Engineering Center said that traffic lights indeed undergo flickering tests.

Engineer Francisco Pesino, chief of the MMDA's Traffic Signal Operation and Maintenance, said no incident of hacking has so far been recorded so far because the traffic light system is not yet internet-based; they use fiber optic technology in the traffic light operations.

"It can be monitored, controlled, and adjusted remotely through our fiber optic communication link from the field facilities to the command center," Pesino added.

MMDA considers three factors in managing traffic signals in 441 intersections in Metro Manila—the rate of accident, the volume of vehicles, and the number of conflicting intersections in the area.

Recently, other specially-designed traffic lights also caught the attention of many pedestrians, including those that resemble Mickey Mouse's ear and Marikina's shoe-shaped traffic lights.  —Dona Magsino/NB, GMA News