Cable cars, trains in Baguio, Benguet towns pushed

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The city government supports a feasibility study to find most feasible common public transport system like cable cars, trains or e-jeepnes that will be put in place within the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) area.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said coming up with a lasting solution to the city’s worsening traffic woes involves study of factors that might affect sources of livelihood of some sectors.

He said feasibility studies for various types of public transport system should be studied that could be adapted in the city.

Aside from the monorail project proposed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), some sectors are pushing use of cable cars and electronic jeepneys to lessen air pollution.

However, Domogan said there is a need to first complete the feasibility studies for such projects to identify possible problems and solutions local residents would not be displaced of their sources of livelihood.

Earlier, the Cordillera Regional Development Council created an ad hoc committee to make  pre-feasibility study for the La Trinidad and Baguio lines of the monorail project proposed by the DOST-CAR.

It was learned that the 5.2-km La Trinidad line from the Benguet Provincial Capitol area up to Slaughterhouse Compound will cost P4 billion while the 2.1-km Baguio line from Bonifacio rotunda up to  SM City Baguio area will cost P3 billion.

Domogan said the city government remains open to recommendations on how to solve the city’s worsening traffic problem although initial measures have already been put in place by the city to address traffic jams in the central business district area.

According to him, city officials listen to the plight of the motoring and commuting public on how to address problems of the city with  rapid migration that is why various sectors should not be hesitant in coming out with their recommendations which will be considered by city officials and traffic experts.