NEDA gathers experts to ease BLISTT traffic

By Marlo Lubguban

BAGUIO CITY – The National Economic Development Authority-Cordillera gathered experts on traffic and transport management from regional line agencies and the local government units of Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT) for a workshop on BLISTT Traffic and Transport Management last Nov. 15.

The workshop was set to provide the BLISTT Governing Council, composed of mayors of the member local government units, information and recommendations to address the traffic problem in the BLISTT area.

“We are converging towards a holistic solution of traffic and transport management in BLISTT,” said Stephanie Christiansen of NEDA-CAR. “We should be cooperating and sharing resources.”

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong who is BLISTT chairman proposed in an earlier meeting to decongest Baguio City by “cutting in half” the number of Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) that would enter Baguio’s central business district.

Resource speaker and traffic management expert engineer Mark de Guzman of the SLU School of Engineering and Architecture shared his research-based insights on traffic and transport management and urban planning.

De Guzman cited the triangle of transport solutions where there are basic areas to focus on such as road marking and signs, manholes, drain covers, street lights, “even before we talk about cable cars and monorails”, he said. He also underscored that solutions should be in engineering, education, and enforcement.

The experts, facilitated by staff of NEDA regional office, discussed strategies on decongesting bottlenecks and other transportation management concerns in the BLISTT such as the increasing number of private vehicles during weekends and holidays, longer commuting time, inadequate parking facilities, and proposed diversion routes.

The participants also reviewed local ordinances that addressed traffic and transport concerns in their respective municipalities.

The experts provided recommendations to be consolidated by NEDA-CAR.

The Council will next meet on Dec. 4 where the outputs of this workshop will be discussed and short to long-term plans will be put in place.

The BLISTT Governing Council met on Sept. 12 when elected officers took oath with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong as the chairman, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan, vice chairman, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda, secretary and Tublay Mayor Armando Lauro as treasurer