LA TRINIDAD, the capital town of Benguet province, declared that every Thursday of the first week of each month as Car-ree Day.
La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda on April 5, signed Executive Order No. 05-2018, declaring carless day in support of the reduction of emissions coming from motor vehicles and as part of creating public awareness on environmental protection and a healthy lifestyle.
“We hope to lessen traffic with less cars in the declared car-free areas,” added the mayor.
The car-free day applies to all privately-owned vehicles and motorcycles intending to enter, park, or traverse through the premises of the municipal hall building starting 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Areas covered in the order include the entrance to the municipal premises and the parking areas of the municipal building, gymnasium and the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station.
Exempted from the coverage are government and private vehicles used by persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Moreover, the mayor added the Trading Post Road is not included in the coverage to pave way to the ongoing transactions of vegetable traders in the municipality.
The 12-hour car-free plan also imply government employees and officials violating the order be dealt in accordance with Civil Service Rules and other administrative regulations.
Salda also urged the 16 barangays to adopt the order.
“Citizens of the Valley are also encouraged to observe the designated carless day and use their respective motor vehicles and instead encouraged to walk, use public transport and alternative non-motorized transport,” the order states.
The order is anchored to the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) area designated as an air-shed, which is created in area with similar climate, meteorology and topology that affect the interchange and diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere.