Baguio City officials meet to fix traffic

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – The Traffic and Transport Management Committee met last week to discuss issues on traffic to include exemptions, loading and unloading areas, parking areas, pedestrian lanes and concerns on jeepney groups’ rationalization scheme.

Chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, committee members including Councilor NicasioAliping, Jr., Baguio City Police Office Traffic Management Group’s James Logan, OIC planning officer engineer Evelyn Cayat, representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways and drivers’ groups tackled the transport sector’s needs.

First, the mayor said, is inspection for vehicle owners’ application requirement as to existing private parking space, as this exacerbates vehicular traffic in city and barangay roads. Transport and traffic officers should be strict in implementing the ruling in such since the city is wanting in parking space, he said.

The uniforms for drivers should also be implemented, as to the administrative order issued by the mayor on the first week of January. This was the subject of clarification as queries arose if the uniforms are in accordance to the directives from the national transport office. Perfecto Itliong, Jr. of the local transport group made the clarification, and there is no need for an amendment as earlier mentioned.

Requests from several commercial establishments for motorcycle route exemption and parking along Magsaysay rd sidewalk and Session road were outright denied by the committee. Session road should be motorcycle-free, the mayor said, and sidewalks used as parking endangers pedestrians, as they are forced to walk instead on the road.

Additional loading area for a jeepney line was up for study. The said request came up with the observation that two jeepney units could better serve the riding public, lessen the lines snaking along the sidewalk and road.

A proposal for signal lights and an overpass at Lower Session road was also requested for further study.

Building contractors asking for exemptions for delivery trucks were denied by the committee, even as it was for a government project. The mayor however advised them to carry out the project during night time, as delivery trucks can ply city roads from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Trunkline color change can only be clarified with the Department of Transportation and Communication national office, it was so learned as an appeal for such change was logged in.

The change was requested on need for the usual parking space.

Crosswalks along Harrison road shall also be subjected to a comprehensive written report, Mayor Domogan said, as with the need for a wider space for the overpass along Abanao.

A report was submitted on traffic and pedestrian volume along Abanaostreet.

For DPWH projects, it was learned that all efforts are being done to finish all before the Panagbenga grand parades on Feb. 25 and 26. Adjustments are being done, the DPWH representative said.

Re-routing schemes for Kayangstreet was also assured by the committee, for the benefit of transport business and the riding public.