WITH the expected arrival of tourists, large volume of traffic will once again be felt particularly in the central business area of Baguio City.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan remains open to the idea of pedestrianizing Session Road during holidays to alleviate the large volume of vehicles which contributes to the problem of traffic during these times.
"I have always been in favor closing Session Road during special occasions and holidays but the problem is, there are sectors who does not approve of this move," said the mayor.
Two aldermen have proposed the conduct of a comprehensive study for the redevelopment of Session Road for tourism purposes.
Incumbent and former local legislators have given a proposed resolution in the past to reconsider the redevelopment and upgrade of Session Road to keep up with the present situation and to prepare the city for the future in its development plan.
Under the proposed resolution, the redevelopment may focus on the possibility of having a one-way traffic direction at Session Road with regulated parking, expanded pedestrian walkway, with greeneries and the possibility of removing the center island.
It also indicated the economic and tourism benefits for a revitalized Session Road with an improved traffic and an increased pedestrian walkability with the expanded pedestrian walkway to become comparable to the best walkways all over the world.
"It is high time we reconsider closing Session Road to vehicular traffic during holidays and special occasions. The volume of vehicles passing through during these times just could not contain it," Domogan stressed.
In preparation for the Yuletide holiday, the mayor has called on public schools like Baguio Central, Quezon Elementary, and the Baguio City National High Schools to open their premises to act as additional parking spaces.
"Aside from these schools, we will ask the GSIS to open their compound at DPS barangay to accommodate the expected tourists by letting them use this as a parking area, and encourage them to walk if their preferred destination would be the central business area,” the mayor added.