BCPO LAYS DOWN 10 WAYS TO MITIGATE TRAFFIC DURING PANAGBENGA PARADES

February 24, 2024 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY

The Baguio City Police Office Traffic Enforcement Unit (BCPO-TEU) prepared 10 ways to mitigate traffic congestion in the Summer Capital in anticipation of thousands of visitors and parade spectators during the Panagbenga Grand Street Dance and Grand Float parades over the weekend. BCPO-TEU Chief PLT.Col Zacarias P. Dausen said they will be implementing 10 steps to manage vehicular traffic in the city.

He explained these steps were implemented and tested during the opening parade and the Spring Festival parade early this month with adjustments on the deployment of personnel to ensure better management of resources. He said all BCPO personnel will be deployed on full alert during the major events, some in civilian clothing for crowd control and anti-criminality measures and other will man inbound and outbound control points to ensure continuous flow of vehicles.

A one-way scheme will be implemented along Kisad Road for inbound vehicles while Legarda Road will be for outbound. Emergency lanes will also be activated along Kalaw Road (below SM Skyranch and DLIG office) and and North Drive to serve as entry and exit going to the following hospitals: Notre Dame De Chartres Hospital, SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Baguio Medical Center.

Dausen said parade spectators are not allowed to occupy the Emergency Lane at Kalaw-North Drive-Session Road intersection. Public Utility Jeepney rerouting schemes for those with loading and unloading sites affected by the parade route were already informed according to Dausen. He assured the public that PUJs and PUVs will be servicing their routes in compliance to Ordinance 133 series of 2018 extending the operation of PUJs until 10 p.m. Aggressive posting of traffic advisories has also been conducted.

Meanwhile, the barangay officials are reminded of their mandate to implement the anti-road obstruction measures within barangay roads to ensure that all road are passable after the parade proper. The BCPO-TEU identified over 3,600 parking slots for vehicles within private properties and almost a thousand parking slots for motorcycles. Visitors and residents alike are advised to take public transportation and leave their vehicles at home or at their accommodation establishments to lessen the volume of traffic, observe the drop-pick-go system and walk around if going to the central business district.

JMPS