Saturday, August 19, 2006
Ban of inter-city jeeps in Baguio trade zone under study
By Rimaliza Opiña
A SERIES of consultations is needed to resolve whether the proposal prohibiting vehicles with inter-city operation from entering the central business district (CBD) is acceptable, Councilor Rocky Tomas Balisong said on Friday.
While the initial public hearing attended by drivers drew favorable response, Balisong said the comment of the business, tourism, commuters and law enforcement sectors are still needed before a final plan is reached. He said the plight of commuters, who will be forced to take two rides if his proposal is approved, would have to be greatly considered.
He proposed that jeepneys coming from Bauang, San Fernando and Agoo in La Union and Tuba, Itogon and Sablan in Benguet should unload passengers at the Cooyeesan Plaza; Camp 6 at the Baguio General Hospital (BGH) circle; Tuding at the Pacdal circle; Philex and Ampucao at the Philippine National Railways (PNR) area; and La Trinidad jeepneys at the Slaughterhouse compound.
Balisong said the move aims to lessen the number of vehicles that converge at the CBD.
La Trinidad Councilor Thomas Chamos, chairman of the Municipal Council committee on public utilities, however, opposed the move.
He told reporters that contrary to the claim that La Trinidad jeepneys contribute to the clogging of Bokawkan Road and Magsaysay Avenue, the movement of jeepneys along these routes is continuous compared to Trancoville jeepneys whose drivers stop at every point to load and unload passengers.
"Baguio is not what it is now without the contribution of neighboring towns. Streets are for public use. The proposal needs class legislation," said Chamos who suggested that an experiment be done first to test the effectiveness of the proposal.
(August 19, 2006 issue)
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