BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said the opening of business establishments in villages is helping decongest traffic in the central business district (CBD).
“Maganda naman at ang mga negosyo natin nagpupunta na rin outside the town proper para hindi na kailangan pang pumunta ng mga residente sa CBD sa lahat ng pangangailangan nila (It is good that businesses are establishing outside the town proper so that the residents do not need to go to the CBD for their needs),” Col. Ruel Tagel, BCPO director said in an interview Tuesday.
The city’s roads, even at the CBD, are narrow, and authorities can only do so much to address traffic congestion, especially during weekends and peak tourism seasons, Tagel said.
Thus, the implementation of the number coding scheme, he added.
The police chief said they were finalizing the online application developed by the BCPO that would allow the public to see real-time traffic situation in the city.
“It (the online traffic application) hopes to affect the decision of the public whether to go out or not or to proceed with their schedules considering the traffic and the available parking areas,” he said.
Cicille Tabilog, a resident of Irisan, is thankful for the opening of the satellite market, major grocery chains, and pharmacies in their village and along Naguilian road since she doesn’t have to go to the main market at the CBD since prices and quality of products are competitive.
She said they only go to the town proper for specialized items, unlikely to be available nearby. **Liza Agoot
