COUNCILOR Edgar Avila is proposing to charge visitors in Baguio City congestion and ecology fees for the use of motor-vehicles delivery vans and trucks when in the mountain resort.
"The unending traffic fiasco in the Summer Capital has become an inevitable reality. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures and while we are no experts in traffic management, we must now make a bold move to tame traffic as our City is drowning in vehicles," he said.
A P200 to P400 congestion charge will be imposed only during holidays. The P200 per day shall be imposed on motorists who shall use their motor vehicles (cars, jeeps and vans) to drive into the city core or major streets toward tourist destinations, hotels, resorts, churches, and grottos, among others.
A similar charge shall be imposed for delivery vans and trucks, while there will be a P400 charge per day for tourist buses.
Failure to pay the fee will be a violation of the law and has a corresponding fine of P1,000.
Avila's proposal also suggests a tourist ecology fee, which is set to be a one-time payment of P50 for both local and foreign tourists.
"Letting congestion essentially flourish unchecked would be likely to create political backlash from our constituents, discouragement for commercial investors, dangerous problems for emergency access, thus unless real and radical changes are made, we will destroy the once peaceful, calm that Baguio was every time a national holiday arrives and we welcome tourist in our midst," he said.
Holidays as per presidential proclamation include regular holidays: January 1 - New Year's Day, April 9 - Araw ng Kagitingan, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, May 1 - Labor Day, June 12 - Independence Day, Eid'l Fitr, August 28 or last Monday of August - National Heroes' Day, September 1 - Baguio Foundation Day, Eid'l Adha, November 30 - Bonifacio Day, December 25 - Christmas Day, and December 30 - Rizal Day.
Special non-working holidays include Chinese New Year, February 25 - Edsa Revolution Anniversary, Black Saturday, August 21 - Ninoy Aquino Day, November 1 - All Saints' Day, and December 3l.
"The ordinance aims to provide one alternative solution to at least discourage the influx of motor vehicles and/or source funds to finance traffic related development plans," Avila said.
The new measure covers motor-vehicles used in major streets of Baguio, particularly those directed to and from tourist destinations, hotels, resorts and churches during particular holidays.
Avila has identified the City Treasurer of Baguio as the collection agent, which could deputize hotels, inns, travel and tours agents, transport operators, accredited non-government organizations, village captains and their council members and village watchmen as sub-agents.
All fees collected will then be deposited to a special trust fund to be exclusively used by the Traffic Management Council to develop a traffic system that is fined tuned for the requirements of the city, said Avila.
The tourist ecology fee, on the other hand, will be used by the City Environment and Parks Office to augment its funds to protect the environment and parks of Baguio.
The measure was passed in first reading during the City Council's regular meeting this week.