THREE vice mayoralty candidates in Baguio City are set to push for reforms concerning the perennial traffic problem in the city.
During a political forum organized by the Hotels and Restaurant Association of Baguio recently, vice mayoralty candidates Edison Bilog, Betty Lourdes Tabanda and Isabelo Cosalan presented their platform on how the city can solve the traffic problem.
Councilors Fred Bagbagen and Jeffrey Pinic -- both independent vice mayoralty candidates -- were not able to attend the forum for undisclosed reasons, according to the organizer.
Tabanda, during the forum, said there is a need for the legislative body to review the city’s traffic ordinance passed in 1984 in consonance with the ongoing amendment of the City Land Use Plan (Clup).
The lawmaker emphasized on the need to conduct a technical study to have an accurate data on the volume of vehicles plying the city roads at a given time.
She said this data will be the basis in identifying the number of terminals needed for public utility vehicles.
Tabanda added that the technical study should include appropriate engineering designs considering the topography of the city when developing circumferential roads for an efficient transport system.
Bilog, the city's incumbent vice mayor, said there is a need to get the opinion of the public first before proposing a solution.
He added as an advocate of ‘Walk Baguio’, pedestrianization and a mass transport system should be supported by elected local officials.
According to Bilog, the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) concept as a solution to decongest Baguio and will push for bike lanes, sidewalks and centralized parking in the central business district to de-clog roads from parked vehicles causing obstruction to traffic flow.
Councilor Cosalan, on the other hand, said as a solution to traffic, participative consultation should be a focus.
“Let us listen to the suggestions from the public and consider the livelihood of affected PUV drivers if we are to support mass transport system like monorail,” Cosalan said.
Cosalan said migration, tourism and education have all contributed to the traffic problems of Baguio which calls for collaborative efforts among LGUs particularly the BLISTT. He also mentioned the need to revise the City Charter to address migration woes such as its impact to land acquisition.
The candidates also sought the involvement of government agencies like the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the amendment of the city’s Clup as the main framework for traffic management. (With reports from David Beltran/UB Intern)