By ADELA WAYAS
www.nordis.net

Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY — Started last Monday on an experimental basis, all La Trinidad jeepneys are banned from entering the city’s central business district (CBD), a move which has earned many criticisms from both drivers and commuters alike.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. issued an administrative order (AO) banning all Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) from La Trinidad, Atok, Tublay, Kapangan and Kibungan (all towns of Benguet) from entering the city’s CBD. All PUVs are now required to do their unloading and loading passengers only at the Slaughter Compound along Magsaysay Road.

PUVs entering the city through Bokawkan road are also affected by the AO, and they have now to unload their passengers at the bottom of Bokawkan.
It was observed that during the first week of the implementation of the AO, there were traffic jams in the Slaughter Compound. Many of the commuters especially the students and employees from La Trinidad are complaining against the new AO.

Meanwhile, students and employees also from Baguio City going to study and work in La Trinidad are adversely affected as well.

They claim that the experiment is so inconvenient to commuters and is affecting them financially. Students and employees from La Trinidad would take at least two rides in order to reach the city center.

Meanwhile in response to the request of some officials, students, employees and residents of Benguet, Mayor Bautista agreed to a “window system” allowing the PUVs en route to the city through Magsaysay Road to enter the CBD from 8:00pm to 8:00 am.

The AO is a move of the city government to solve the heavy flow of traffic in the city and is expected to end by month’s end when its impact on the city’s traffic flow will be evaluated.#nordis.net