BAGUIO CITY – The city government ordered the suspension of the Baguio Number Cording Scheme for the motor vehicles of the participants of the ongoing 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament from December 2-18, 2019.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong issued Executive Order No. 168, series of 2019, which ordered the suspension of the Baguio Number Coding Scheme for the participants of the ongoing amateur golf tournament which is now underway at the Camp John Hay (CJH) and Baguio Country Club (BCC) golf courses.
Under the order, participants of the golf tournament are required to show to the apprehending officers their identification cards issued by the organizers for their exemption from the coverage of the traffic scheme of the city.
It has been the practice of the city government to suspend the implementation of the Baguio Number Coding Scheme during the conduct of huge gatherings conducted in the city, in this case, the 70th edition of the Fil-Am Invitational Golf tournament.
Ordinance No. 01 series of 2003, amended by Ordinance No. 107 series of 2008, is known as the Baguio Number Coding Scheme Ordinance where motor vehicles are not allowed to ply the city’s streets on certain days of the week based on the ending of the license plate number of motor vehicles.
Section 6 of Ordinance No. 01, series of 2003, as amended by Section 1 of Ordinance No. 107, series of 2008, exempts private motor vehicles and chartered public utility vehicles of visitors, tourists, vacationers or participants of sanctioned activities such as conventions, conferences and assemblies, provided that, sponsoring groups of the conventions, seminars, conferences or assemblies shall be required to issue their participants the necessary stickers or documents showing that the owners or possessors thereof are participants of such activities.
Executive Order No 1, series of 2009, entitled ‘Setting the guidelines for the implementation of Ordinance No. 107, series of 2008’ defined sanctioned activities as those referring to sponsored, or hosted activities by the city government which are duly authorized or approved by the City Mayor or the City Council through appropriate resolutions.
For this year, the 70th edition of the annual golf tournament will be held from December 2-18, 2019, with games hosted by the BBCC and CJH golf courses.
Aside from the more than 1,400 golfers who earlier signified their intention to participate in the annual golf tourney, their family members will also be joining them.
The city chief executive underscored the need to suspend the implementation of the Baguio Number Coding Scheme for motor vehicles of participants of the prestigious international sports event in the city on the aforesaid dates to provide golfers and members of their families a convenient and stress-free journey around the city to help boost the city’s identity as one of the prime tourist destinations in the country.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis