Circumferential Road finished next month

BAGUIO CITY - BAGUIO’S Circumferential Road will be finished by the end of next month to enhance public access and safe conveyance around the city, and link it with its neighboring towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and 

Baguio and the adjacent municipalities of Benguet are jointly known as the BLISTT area or Metro Baguio.

“The upcoming completion of our circumferential road will definitely decongest Baguio’s central business district (CBD) from heavy traffic, and induce growth and development throughout the BLISTT area,” explained Congressman Bernardo Vergara, who was the main proponent and facilitator of the major road project.

“Baguio is part of a region and it serves as a gateway to the rest of the Cordilleras. With this road, development will be further dispersed throughout our neighboring towns. Even before, I have been pushing for the integrated development of the BLISTT area under the concept of sharing and helping. By integrating development, we can all share resources and capabilities, and grow together,” Vergara continued.

Vergara admitted that since Baguio has developed so much, this resulted to congestion, and to adverse effects on traffic and the delivery of basic services because this results to water and electricity woes.

“Baguio was designed for only 25,000 people. As years passed, our population grew to 300,000 and now to almost half a million. With modernization and urbanization came an upsurge in population, and this was aggravated by the coming of the devastating 1990 earthquake and by bombardment from many strong typhoons,” Vergara pointed out.

“This is why, even before, it had been my mission to promote the establishment of a BLISTT area. I started the circumferential road to catalyze development in our neighboring towns while decongesting Baguio itself. By the end of next month, people can go from one end of Baguio to the other, and go to our neighboring towns of Benguet, without having to enter our central business district,” Vergara added.

“Infrastructure development is important for every developing city. Without this, no road will be built, no school building will rise, and no business movement will take place. Good and safe roads facilitate the conveyance of goods, people and services. Good and strong school buildings will allow the education of our children. We need to disperse development away from the CBD and make it possible for everyone to share in the fruits of progress. Other universities should follow SLU in putting up their Bakakeng campus. We should also have more housing developers who will open housing projects in Irisan, Loakan, Aurora Hill, San Carlos and Camp 7. Pagmaayos ang infrastructure na nailatag, bibilis pa ang progreso at lahat tayo ay uunlad,” Vergara continued. 

He pointed out that the 2.5 million tourists who came for our Panagbenga festival this year are the living witnesses to the continued growth of tourism in Baguio. “With tourism, we get more business and more jobs, our economy improves, and Baguio progresses. Siguro naman, ang patuloy na pag-unlad ng turismo ay patunay na ginagawa natin ang dapat, with the continued inspiration and support of other city officials led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, the Baguio Tourism Council and its member-associations, our hotels and restaurants and our transport sector,” Vergara 

Traffic is a problem resulting from the continuing development of our city, and we need solutions, both short-term and long-term. In the past three years, most of our incumbent city officials and I have humbly strived in helping Baguio reclaim much of its winning charm and beauty which was sadly neglected in preceding years, and to get our beloved city to move forward. With our modest contributions as public officials, our people have begun to feel that their essential needs and services are being addressed with proven competence, characteristic humility and tested sincerity,” Vergara stressed.