THE Baguio City Government supports the conduct of the required feasibility study to ascertain the most feasible common public transport system that will be put in place within the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (Blistt) area.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said coming up with a lasting solution to the city’s worsening traffic woes involves the consideration of numerous factors that might affect the sources of livelihood of some sectors, thus, the importance of conducting the necessary feasibility studies for the various types of common public transport system that should be adopted in the city.
Aside from the monorail project being proposed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), some sectors are pushing for the establishment of cable cars and electronic jeepneys that would help contribute in significantly addressing the pollution of the city’s air.
Domogan, however, cited there is a need to first complete the feasibility studies for such magnitude of projects in order to identify the possible problems and the recommended solutions so as not to result to the displacement of local residents from their sources of livelihood once the City Government will decide to adopt the most feasible, environmentally-friendly and affordable common public transport system.
“It is very important for us to have a comprehensive study on the different types of common public transport system being proposed by concerned agencies and the different sectors for the local government to also study its options for the benefit of the greater majority of the populace. We must be guided by the results of the studies so that we will not commit a mistake that will compromise the welfare of the people,” Domogan said.
Earlier, the Regional Development Council (RDC)-Cordillera created an ad hoc committee that will study the conduct of the pre-feasibility study for the proposed La Trinidad and Baguio lines of the monorail project proposed by the DOST-Cordillera.
The 5.2-kilometer La Trinidad line from the Benguet Provincial Capitol area up to the Slaughterhouse Compound will cost at least P4 billion while the 2.1-kilometer Baguio line from the Bonifacio rotunda up to SM City Baguio area will have a total project cost of P3 billion.
Domogan claimed the local government remains open to various recommendations on how to solve the city’s worsening traffic problem although initial measures have already been put in place by the city to help mitigate the serious negative effects of the daily traffic jams in the central business district area.
The mayor said city officials listen to the plight of the motoring and commuting public on how to address the pressing problems of the city with the rapid migration that is why various sectors should not be hesitant in coming out with their recommendations which will be for consideration by the concerned city officials and traffic experts. (Baguio PIO)