Sagada’s narrow streets

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province – Traffic had been a problem in this tourist town’s narrow streets for quite some time due to lack of parking spaces compounded by an unimplemented traffic ordinance.

You will wonder what the town mayor is doing to address this problem since tourism peaked up along with business and residents’ private cars.

It is a common sight to see cars lined up bumper to bumper in the narrow streets of the Poblacion from the bus terminal javascript:void(0);to Daoangan road during busy days leaving passersby in threatening situations and vehicles seemingly not moving due to parked cars on the roadsides blocking the movement of moving cars.

The municipality’s traffic ordinance is definitely not working with no-parking spaces with vehicles parked nights and days by private car owners aggravated by visitors’ cars parked on the road near restaurants and hotel establishments.

Sagada Deputy Police officer Johnny Paleyan says private car owners in town are advised to get their cars off the streets especially during the busy days of the peak tourist seasons of the year particularly first week of November, some heavy days last week of December, first week of February during the Etag Festival, and the Lenten season- and during occasional parades from the Daoangan to the terminal area- and have these parked in Makamkamlis and other areas allowed in the Mission compound.

Visitors are also urged to park their cars in parking areas in Makamkamlis and other areas in the mission compound within the premises of the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

To avoid congestion to an already congested road, some quarters suggest that visitors park their cars in identified areas in the Poblacion area and walk their way- a 30 minute leisurely walk- from the terminal to the Big Cave or do unhurried walking to their desired meals in restaurants located down the road below the terminal area. Some even suggest come to Sagada by riding passenger busses.

Some suggest private car-owner residents should build their own parking spaces or find a parking space which doesn’t impede traffic considering streets are narrow and the road is public property not for private use.

A common query: “Where is the parking area?”

A small town congested with residential houses in the middle of the municipality where finds tourist accommodations housing as much as 30,000 registered tourists a year less the unregistered domestic visitors, one finds a town bursting at the central part amidst a sprawling greenbelt area and greeneries in the hills and mountainsides.

The only street leading down to the famous Sumaguing cave at Ambasing is a narrow five meter wide road from the terminal with houses, stairways and fences built close at the sides of the road. One wonders how the road will be widened which is seemingly next to impossible.

The next best thing to consider is a diversion road at Tangebsitio within the Mission lot yet this is an alternative noted to be controversial for some quarters protesting this initiative for environmental reasons.

The next best thing to consider is to use the sprawling Mission lot located just near the road side where are parking spaces.

Mayor Eduard Latawan, in an interview welcomed the positive accommodation of some parts of the Mission lot for parking purposes.

This, following a recent meeting among barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Bayan chaired by vice Mayor Richard Yodong to address garbage and traffic related tourism issues in town.

CSMV Vestry senior warden Patrick Pooten noted proposals for the use of the vacant lot at the end of Tangeb lane adjacent the Dagdag-Ambasing road for a parking lot.

It was recommended that Barangay Dagdag officials write a needed proposal and forward it to the municipal government for financial support along with an agreement with the CSMV for proposed parking lot’s management.

In said meeting, it was also agreed that the municipal government make a proposal for a development plan for the use of the KenGedeng area for a parking lot in partnership with the Church of SMV.

The municipal LGU having a limited and already occupied land area could enter into agreements with the CSMV which has a 34 hectare property located in the Poblacion for infrastructure or development initiatives.

Meantime, it’s going to be Etag Festival come Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 and the streets again will be busy and narrower. The traffic plan issued by Insp. Kristine Gamboa identified loading areas for southern bound jeeps in front of the Lam-en building, northern and eastern bound jeeps in front of St Theodore’s Hospital, Bontoc-bound jeeps at the same loading area in front of the Centrum building but only two allowed at the same time, those bound to Besao at sitioAto in front of the Yodong’s residence and buses in front of the Centrum building.
What do you say? Send your comment or suggestions to radio sagada hotline number 09999991047 or to my email ginadizon@yahoo.com or send a comment to this article at http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2013/01/sagadas-narrow-streets.html