BAGUIO CITY – Baguio’s roads were built to accommodate only 15,000 to 20,000 vehicles, yet there are approximately 58,000 registered vehicles as of 2024. This number does not yet include visitors’ vehicles that worsen the congestion. The city already breached its road network’s carrying capacity as early as 1994, and experts warn that if population growth and infrastructure limitations remain unaddressed, Baguio will eventually face irreversible urban decay by 2043.
In an effort to address this challenge, the city government held the Baguio Traffic and Transport Summit on March 20, 2025, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, where officials, experts, and stakeholders gathered to discuss solutions to the worsening traffic crisis.
Arch. Donna R. Tabangin, from the City Planning Development and Sustainability Office, cited a 2019 study that found that while Baguio’s current population is 380,547, visitor influx can drive it to over 1.2 million. The city can only support 600,000 people, a threshold it is expected to hit by 2035 or 2043.
As of 2023, out of 128 barangays, there is only 1 that is livable, 41 moderately livable, 84 minimally compliant, and 2 having declining livability. Factors considered include mobility, accessibility, risk management, and more.
Arch. Tabangin stressed that the numbers reflect a hard pill to swallow: the city’s resources are barely able to support its population. Although birth rates have declined in recent years, a population boom from the 1980s and 1990s means more people are now at reproductive age. This will potentially drive population growth until at least 2060, further straining Baguio’s already limited resources.
As the number of visitors grows, land is converted for residential, commercial, and infrastructure use. This worsens deficits in life support systems such as forest cover, green spaces, and open areas essential for clean air, water retention, and climate regulation. If these resources continue to dwindle down, the city’s livability and quality of life will deteriorate, threatening long-term sustainability. Restoring these resources will take years, making immediate interventions all the more critical.
Beyond environmental concerns, mobility issues and traffic congestion also pose a grave threat to emergency response efforts. Some areas in the city cannot accommodate firetrucks and other large vehicles, delaying critical assistance during emergencies.
According to Engr. Richard L. Lardizabal, from the City Engineering Office, some local government initiatives include policies such as number coding, truck bans, anti-road obstruction operations, and traffic rerouting schemes. Additionally, programs such as the optimization of the use of existing roads, employment of traffic personnel, and conducting technical studies are also being implemented.
Engr. Bonifacio Dela Peña, City Administrator, discussed plans for multi-level parking buildings in multiple key areas such as the Youth Convergence Center, Tennis Court, Camp Allen and Leonard Wood Road that are in the works. Other proposed sites include the old auditorium at Burnham Park, Victory Liner at DPS Compound, GSIS lot beside Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, and a private lot on Bokawkan Road in front of Toyota Baguio.
However, these efforts offer only temporary relief. Experts suggest that long-term solutions such as sustainable urban planning and stricter land use regulations are crucial to prevent further decline.
Public reaction to the summit was mixed. Some commended the initiative, hoping for concrete solutions that will come of it, while others expressed frustration over the slow implementation of proposed projects. Some also voiced concerns about the possibility of congestion fees, urging officials to focus on traffic solutions that will not burden residents and tourists financially.
In collaboration with the barangay captains and civil society organizations, the City Planning Development and Sustainability Office developed a vision for the city, “Baguio 2043: A Livable, Inclusive, and Creative City,” calling for a collective effort to preserve the beauty and identity of Baguio.
“We have to make Baguio City future-ready,” Mayor Benjamin Magalong stressed. “We need to come up with a more viable solution so that our children and our children’s children will not suffer.” By Julianna Mallari
