Programs on to make Baguio roads safer, healthier for motorists

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – The city government is implementing road programs to make roads of this summer capital safer and healthier for motorists.
    These include roadside testing and monitoring, programs such as jeepney modernization, number coding and traffic rerouting schemes to mitigate air pollution due to exhaust gases emitted by motor vehicles. 
    Re-greening on road center islands, pocket parks and buffer zones; having green potted plants in establishments and tree planting in available areas are also carried out for absorption of harmful fumes and release of oxygen.  
    This is according to the Environmental Management Division in-charge engineer Soforonio Pascua, under supervision of City Environment and Parks Management Office head lawyer Rhenan Diwas.
    The information was reported during the 3rd quarter Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) Airshed Governing Board meeting recently. 
    For the past four months every Sunday, as part of the 3rd Saleng Festival, free emission testing was conducted by the CEPMO roadside tnspection, testing and monitoring team (RITMT) at Upper Session and Harrison roads.
    Results showed from 122 vehicles tested, 77 (63.11%) passed while 45 (36.89%) failed.
    Voluntary emission certificates were given to vehicle owners that passed the emission test.
    Voluntary smoke emission testing is also done at the CEPMO North Sanitary camp office.
    For the first semester of 2023; a total of 4,288 vehicles were tested, with 3,484 (81,25%) passing, and 804 (18,75%) failing.
    According to Pascua, vehicles were with compression-ignition (diesel) engines.
Pascua said 121 RITMT operations in 13 strategic locations for the first semester of 2023 yielded 1,109 vehicles tested where 552 (49.77%) passed while 557 (50.23%) failed.
    From the number of vehicles tested, 606 were private vehicles, 206 taxis, 277  jeepneys, two vans, 10 buses, five school services and a government vehicle.
    Owners of vehicles failing tests weregiven instructions and references for proper vehicle maintenance.
    On jeepney modernization program, Euro 4 or Euro 6 types of vehicles, with engines compliant to stringent emission standards were in city streets while old units were being phased out. 
    The number coding and traffic rerouting scheme lessened vehicles on the streets, thus concentration of exhaust gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Ground Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide and particulate matter decrease.
    These are noted in comparative reports for the first semesters of 2022 and 2023 where said gases’ concentration fluctuate at testing areas along Harrison, Government Center, and Kisad roads. 
    According to Pascua, additional reports as to the city's air quality shall be presented during the 4th quarter BLISTT Airshed governing board meeting.