Baguio City Eyes P250 Congestion Fee for Entering Cars
The City of... Fines?
(SPOT.ph) Baguio City is looking at implementing a congestion fee of P250 or more for private cars entering its central business district.
This initiative comes as Baguio City struggles with increasing congestion, particularly in Session Road where almost 800 registered businesses are crammed into one barangay. Narrow streets and limited parking, along with a never-ending stream of tourists, have made traffic one of the most pressing issues in the city.
According to the Baguio City Public Information Office, the plan was put forward by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. Inspired by successful models from cities like Singapore, London, and New York, the congestion fee is expected to cut down traffic, reduce pollution, save energy, encourage better driving habits, and boost local revenue.
Exempt vehicles would include public transportation like jeepneys, vehicles driven by senior citizens and persons with disabilities, uniformed personnel on duty, and emergency vehicles. Taxis would get a discounted rate, while Baguio residents' vehicles would qualify for rebates as per the MPTC.
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Would you pay a congestion fee to enter Baguio City?
However, people in the comments' section have called out the comparison of Baguio to first-world cities with the same fee, as those places have efficient public transportation systems. They believe that before implementing such a fee, the city needs to make serious improvements to public transport so residents are not left without a reasonable alternative.
Others have even suggested closing Session Road to vehicles altogether.
It’s not the first time Baguio City has considered such a measure. In 2022, the city proposed charging tourists with cars a similar but less expensive congestion fee of P50, but it was never put into effect.
For now, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said that the city is still ironing out the details of the project before submitting it to the City Council for approval.
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