Apec traffic pushes mayor to suspend classes

FOLLOWING the deluge of tourists coming from Metro Manila, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan suspended classes Tuesday until Wednesday from preschool and high school students affected by the exodus in the Summer Capital.

Thousands of tourists flock the highland resort following the suspension of work and classes in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga with the country’s hosting of the APEC Summit.

Baguio residents were surprised Monday with the arrival of massive private vehicles which caused gridlock in many roads, especially going to top tourist destinations like Mines View, Burnham Park, and even going to the La Trinidad strawberry farm.

Hundreds of students and residents were stranded either from their school or from their work with less public utility vehicles plying their routes due to congestion which prompted a city councilor to call for possible suspension of classes in the city.

“Classes from pre-school to high school in the City of Baguio are suspended from Tuesday to Wednesday due to the influx of tourists in the city as felt yesterday with the Asean Summit happening in Manila and Clark...,” Domogan’s post on Facebook said.

Many netizens were glad with the suspension, however, some college students were not happy with saying they too, are affected by the traffic.

“Wag niyo naman po sana kaming kalimutan na college sir mayor! Our university is in the central business where people tend to occupy,” said one netizen.

Another claimed Monday’s "carmageddon" should be a wake-up call for city officials to rethink Baguio’s traffic scheme following the completion of the Tarlac–Pampanga La Union Expressway which lessened travel time from Manila to the Summer Capital.

“This is a quick and temporary solution. If every time na madaming tourists e magka-cancel tayo ng classes, lugi masyado kaming parents na nagbabayad ng mahal na tuition!” an irate parent said. (Roderick Osis)