IN ORDER to notify the public of taxi loading and unloading along Baguio City roads, pavement markings, sign boards, signages and additional traffic aids should be installed by the responsible office.
This was known in a legislative monitoring and evaluation report conducted last February 27 by the City Council, in coordination with Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) director Ramil Saculles and Traffic Management Unit chief Oliver Panabang.
The subject of the legislative monitoring is Ordinance 43, series of 1988 as to the designation of taxi stands within the Central Business District, and amended by another ordinance in 1994. Specific spaces along Magsaysay Avenue, Harrison road, Abanao street and Session road were then used for loading and unloading areas.
In the report, portions of other designated taxi stand could not be used due to parked private vehicles and other obstructions. The utilization of the un/loading areas for senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities however are appreciated, the report mentions.
Other recommendations by monitoring officers of the City Engineers Office and BCPO include a new list of designated taxi stands/loading and unloading areas; and the imposition of penalties to violators.
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In the monitoring report, thus, Senior Superintendent Saculles recommended loading and unloading areas in Abanao (in front of Empire Cinema), in front of Center Mall, Harrison Road (in front of Tiong San), Lower Session road (Chowking), Upper Session road (before Mercury/ RCBC), Governor Pack road (near old collection booth), UP drive (entrance of Sunshine Park), victory liner Terminal, Baguio General Hospital entrance, Upper Session road – Camp John Hay rotunda, City Health Office flagpole side, Mines View Park Area, Session road in front of KFC, Baguio Medical Center, Mabini street – in front of Victoria’s Supermart, Sunshine, Abanao Square Mall, Mabini-Lower session road, Lower Session road near PNB, Middle Session road – Skyworld, and in front of Puso ng Baguio Bldg.
All areas mentioned could not be used for waiting, it was emphasized.
In a related monitoring report of an ordinance, it was known that window parking along Lower Session road and Abanao streets are being effectively implemented where vehicles are prohibited from parking in mentioned streets from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Parking in Upper Mabini street, however, could no longer be pursued, as a pay parking facility is available at Cedar Peak commercial establishment, it was reported. An amendment of the ordinance is sought, to exclude Upper Mabini Street from the areas of window parking, and that a “No Parking Anytime” signage be installed on both sides.
A one lane parallel parking at the left side of Upper Mabini Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., was also assessed to be ineffective and instead of improving traffic along Gen. Luna road, have caused obstruction. The administrative order for its implementation should be repealed, the report stated.