Law up to forbid buses, vans on Baguio streets

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city council is considering a proposed ordinance “declaring it unlawful for provincial passenger buses and vans-for-hire to park or use as terminal, parking space and unloading areas Abanao, Otek and Chanum streets, Governor Pack and Harrison roads “including any road, street, right-of-way, plaza, park, and any other public place.”

Proposed by Councilors Nicasio Aliping Jr. and Richard Carino, the measure seeks the relocation of the loading and unloading areas and stations of these provincial buses and vans-for-hire outside of the central business district to ease vehicular traffic, human crowding and air pollution in the said areas.

In their proposal, the proponents cited paragraph 3 of Resolution Nr. 144, Series of 1995, adapting the recommendation of the traffic and transportation management committee that mentioned that:

“Based on the findings, the committee is recommending the immediate enforcement of Section 1 of Ordinance Nr. 410, Series of 1964, which states that 'No passenger buses and freight trucks shall be allowed to use any road, street, right-of-way, plaza, park or other public place, as a terminal or parking place.', and let the operator abide by the provisions of their CPCs which among others specifies that franchise holders or operators shall provide their own off-street terminals.

It is further recommended that south-bound buses should look for an off-street terminal outside the Central Business District preferably near or within the vicinity of Marcos Highway and Kennon Road, and, for north-bound buses, Quirino Highway.”

“The committee advocates the dispersal of destination trips to the CBD. The concentration of north-bound buses at Governor Pack Road is in contradiction to the Committee's stand on dispersal. It instead resulted to the convergence of travelers to a common point which resulted to traffic jams along Governor Pack Road,” the proponents noted.

Proposed penalties include fines ranging from P1,000 to P3,000 with confiscation of license and imprisonment.

The council has approved the measure on second reading and for publication.