Traffic scheme for Trinidad PUVs also slated for city jeeps

BAGUIO CITY – Trancoville and Aurora Hill jeepneys here may also be subjected to the same traffic double coding system under which the La Trinidad and other out-of-town jeepneys are being experimented on.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. bared this during a media forum last week, saying the move is seen to further slash the number of vehicles traversing the city’s main road.

Last week the experimental double number coding scheme was implemented, to which La Trinidad and out-of-town jeepneys complied with. PUJs with plate numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are not allowed to enter the CBD during Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those with plate numbers ending in 2,4,6,8 and 0, are in turn, not allowed to enter the CBD on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This pegged LTB jeepney drivers only three to four days of travel to and from the CBD.

Out-of-town one-day-one-trip Benguet jeepneys are allowed access to the Dangwa Station, as their parking space; provided they stay in the area until they are to travel back to their destination. A check on the area shows compliance to the double coding scheme and the prohibitions, as there is a marked decrease of the number of PUJs using the place.

La Trinidad public utility jeepneys, on the other hand are allowed up to the rabbit sinkhole turning left from the main route. Other trunklines opted to unload their passengers at the same place and proceed to park at the Slaughterhouse compound, which is also utilized as their loading area.

Two weeks ago, La Trinidad and other out-of-town jeepneys were allowed only up to Slaughterhouse compound, which was utilized as a turn-about-area. The situation brought traffic jams at certain times on parts of Magsaysay avenue.

La Trinidad jeepneys plying the Bokawkan route were also not allowed the use of their usual route.

Mayor Bautista, J during the media Ugnayan last week clarified that the La Trinidad-Bokawkan route may be allowed only if the city council revokes or amends an earlier ordinance banning its use by said trunkline.

Appeals and requests he has received since the start of the traffic experiment, which he claims is voluminous, should instead be addressed to the city council, he added.

He also reiterated that the traffic experiments are meant to show the flaws of the scheme. “We understand that some are inconvenienced by the experiment,” he said, “as we have received criticism since its implementation.”
We are looking for “the best formula,” and “what is most convenient for all,” he added.

The traffic and transport management committee is looking al all possible remedies to the traffic woes of the city, the mayor ended. – Julie G. Fianza