A workshop held on December 4-5, 2025 gathered representatives from offices responsible for implementing traffic and transportation rules to review a decades-old ordinance that established rules and regulations governing road use, traffic flow, vehicle operation, parking, and driver responsibilities in Baguio City.
Enacted in 1984, Ordinance 7-1984 serves as the city’s comprehensive guidelines for transportation and traffic management which guides traffic enforcers, law enforcement officers, and other authorities in the performance of their duties on city and national roads, especially those found within the Central Business District.
Among the most important provisions are the rules requiring motorcycle passengers to be properly seated with helmets, the obligation for drivers to stop and render aid after accidents, and the penalties for overspeeding, reckless driving, and illegal parking. Additionally, the ordinance enforces zoning-based parking requirements and regulates road obstructions, load securing, and vehicle processions to prevent congestion and hazards.
Some provisions may now be antiquated and do not account for modern urban mobility solutions. Although some of these provisions have been amended by recent ordinances, there is a need to review the entire legislation and amend it in a holistic and consistent manner that aligns with contemporary needs.
Led by the office of Councilor Fred Bagbagen, the two-day workshop aims to update and strengthen the provisions of the ordinance. Its outcome will be a proposed ordinance amending existing provisions, repealing obsolete regulations, and producing an updated Traffic and Transportation Code that revises the first volume (1945–2007 edition) to include ordinances enacted from 2008 to the present.
During the first day, suggestions given by participants included incorporating recent ordinances on pedestrians such as the King of the Road Ordinance and the Anti-Distracted Walking Ordinance into the Code, integrating the city’s Speed Limit Ordinance, and expanding the list of prohibited intoxicants to include other substances.
Thresholds for blood alcohol concentration were also recommended: 0.05% or higher is considered under the influence for drivers of private vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of not exceeding 4,500 kg and 0.00% for drivers of trucks, buses, motorcycles, and public utility vehicles (PUVs).
With first-hand knowledge and experience in codification, personnel of the Baguio City Council believed that this workshop represented only a fraction of the total work required to codify multiple pieces of legislation. More workshops, consultations, and legislative research are expected to take place in the future. **Jordan G. Habbiling
