Mayor cancels Session Road closure

February 3, 2020 Headlines

In a press briefing held on January 31, Mayor Benjamin Magalong cancelled the pedestrianization of Session Road every Sunday as a preventive measure to protect Baguio locals against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
The chief executive also cancelled the grand opening parade of the Silver Celebration of Panagbenga and the opening of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet 2020.
With the cancellation of Session Road’s pedestrianization for the entire month of February, all planned activities in the next coming Sundays will not push through. Responding to the request of the Executive Body for a six month extension of Session Road’s pedestrianization, the legislators during the Special Session on January 27 allowed the closure of the said road but only for four consecutive Sundays in the month of February while awaiting the consolidated report from the different concerned agencies.
From August to December 2019, the entire upward lane of Session Road was closed to vehicular traffic every Sunday. The experimental road closure was in line with the executive body’s plan to come up with an effective traffic management system in the city and to lessen air pollution in the area by encouraging people to walk in the Central Business District.
The councilors reiterated that the approval or disapproval of the said request for a six-month extension will depend on the report concerning the impact of the experimental road closure on the air quality in the area and on the traffic condition of neighboring roads such as Harrison Road, Magsaysay Avenue, and Bonifacio Street.
City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña informed the City Council during the Council’s Regular Session on January 20 that the Executive Body was still consolidating the report from the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other agencies and offices regarding the recently concluded experimental closure of the upward lane of Session Road. To date, the City Council has not yet received the said report.
The august body requested the Chief Executive to expedite the submission of the said report. In an interview, PCPT Samuel Pacio, Deputy Head of the Traffic Enforcement Unit-BCPO, admitted that the closure of Session Road every Sunday “affects the smooth flow of traffic in the CBD.”
He added there were a number of transport groups complaining about the traffic congestion observed in the neighboring roads as a result of the temporary diversion scheme implemented during the closure of Session Road.
“The diversion of vehicles to other routes caused traffic congestion in other areas considering that our roads are narrow,” Pacio said.
Pacio informed the City Council during the Regular Session on January 20 that they had already prepared a report on the traffic condition of roads in the Central Business District relative to the operation of the experimental closure, and it was submitted to the City Director for checking and approval.
The City Tourism and Special Events Division confirmed that they are currently conducting a survey to determine people’s reactions and gather suggestions on the conduct of the said experimental closure that took place from August to December 2019.
The office said the 1,000 respondents were local residents, visitors, and several business owners along Session Road. The office added that the results of the survey will be submitted to the Mayor’s Office upon completion.
 
Jordan G. Habbiling/ABN