Baguio coding scheme suspended up to Jan.1

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY- Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. last week issued Administrative Order 169 suspending the implementation of the number coding scheme for private vehicles from Nov. 11, next week, up to Jan. 1, 2010.

The mayor bared this saying local and foreign tourists are expected to flock to the city for this coming Christmas season.

Business people, especially of tourism-oriented establishments are also expected to gain a little bit more after the blow to the economy as to the devastation from the calamities that struck the city, the mayor said.

The city shall also host several conferences during the next weeks, including the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers convention, with participants numbering to more than thousands.

About a thousand and five hundred golf enthusiasts are also expected to flock to the city during the opening and tee-off of the 60th Fil-Am Centennial Golf tournament on Nov. 18, at playing venues; Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club, as with tourists and balikbayans who will join the annual Christmas in Baguio activities.

Bautista, Jr. expects most of the guests to arrive with their own vehicles, or would rent public utility vehicles for convenience in travel and touring purposes. The convention participants, as well as the balikbayans are expected to take the opportunity in going around the Baguio-Benguet area, thus the need for the number coding scheme suspension, issued by the mayor.

Adventure trips; kayaking and fishing, mountaineering, spelunking, snorkeling, and diving, in addition to hiking, mountain biking, horse-back riding and mine tours on the outskirts of the city and around the province have been prepared for tourist groups, thus transport within the areas would be needed.

Hired and rented public utility vehicles are also exempted from the number coding scheme upon presentation of appropriate identification that they are truly visitors/tourists/vacationers or convention participants, the order further read.

The order is anchored on Section 7, of the Baguio City Number Coding Scheme Ordinance.