Baguio Mayor asks for ‘patience’ in facing traffic woes amidst tourists influx

Mayor Benjamin Magalong stressed the need to ‘bite the bullet’ for the meantime in terms of traffic congestions aggravated by the influx of tourists to the Summer Capital especially during the Yuletide Season when various activities and the dip in temperature induce visitors to come in droves.

“Admittedly, we need these tourists for our city’s economic growth since the city has suffered shortfalls in its revenue collections in the past years due to the ongoing Coronovarius disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” he said.

The Mayor pointed out that revenues generated by the local tourism sector will help bolster the city government’s  coffers that would be used to fund social and other services that would benefit the public.

Although he realizes the rise in the public’s ‘irritability issues’ when it comes to the city’s traffic woes, the Mayor emphasized the need for patience at this time and expressed confidence that this would be lessened in the long run.

The Mayor assured that concrete measures are in the pipeline that will be implemented next year to minimize traffic jams especially experienced in major thoroughfares of the city.

The city has continuously encouraged residents and visitors to use public transport, bicycle or even walk, if possible, to help ease the city’s traffic woes. 

Earlier, the city tourism office revealed that the number of tourist arrivals in the city this year is already reaching pre-pandemic levels with around 150,000 visitors per month since March or an estimated 1.2 million so far. – Gaby B. Keith