Magsaysay Avenue test goes awry

A RESOLUTION banning the entry of La Trinidad jeepneys to Baguio City has earned the ire of residents of both communities.

The resolution was implemented on an experimental basis Monday.

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On its first day of implementation, traffic jams resulted in Magsaysay Avenue extending all the way to Km. 4 in La Trinidad.

As a result, Mayor Artemio Galwan personally met with Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. Monday morning and asked the experiment to be studied further.

In the afternoon, Governor Nestor Fongwan appeared personally at the City Council and like Galwan, also asked for city officials to study the matter further before it is implemented.

As a result of the traffic jam, Fongwan said many employees of the Capitol, who happened to reside in Baguio came late for work Monday.

Students and employees are also inconvenienced for they have to take more than one ride before reaching their destination.

Some even rode at least three times, Fongwan said.

The experiment, they said, is affecting them financially.

In response to the request of officials and affected students and residents, secretary to the mayor Jay Co said Bautista agreed to a “window system,” where from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., PUJs traversing the Magsaysay Avenue route will be allowed to enter the business district.

However, this scheme applies only to Magsaysay Avenue. For those traversing the Bokawkan route, the non-entry scheme will still be enforced.

There are at least 1,200 jeepney units, from La Trinidad and other neighboring Benguet towns, plying the La Trinidad-Magsaysay route.

The 24 jeepney trunklines ferry thousands of commuters, including students to Baguio schools daily. (With Maria Elena Catajan)