BAGUIO CITY – The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association – Baguio-Benguet Chapter (CREBA-BBC) is pushing for the immediate creation of a non-partisan and iron hand organization to assist the city government in addressing the worsening traffic congestions that will translate to better peace and order situation beneficial to the safety and security of local residents and tourists who will flock to the city in the future.
In a resolution, the CREBA-BBC asserted the city council must create the Baguio City Development Coordinating Authority (BCDCA) which will be composed of representatives from the different government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs) and professionals and experts in urban planning to be chaired by someone with competence, honesty, integrity, sound management skills and strong will to serve the city without political affiliations in order to avoid collective decisions from being politicized for the benefit of the general welfare of the people of the city.
“We need the involvement of highly competent individuals who have the strong political will coupled with an iron hand organization or a quasi-government group bestowed with the absolute authority and power to enforce peace and order as well as righteous and justifiable actions for the interest, comfort and enjoyment of the people of the city,” the CREBA-BBC resolution stressed.
Because of the influx of visitors from Metro Manila and other parts of the lowlands to the city during the prolonged Yuletide season and during the vacation as a result of the visit of Pope Francis to the country during the middle part of January, Baguio City experienced tremendous traffic congestions around the city that earned the ire of local residents and even tourists who were supposed to spend a well-deserved break in the Summer Capital.
The CREBA-BBC cited more visitors are expected to flock to the city this year with the expected completion of the 88.4-kilomter Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) up to its exit in Rosario, La Union considering that the travel time from Manila to Baguio will now be reduced from six hours to three hours that will entice people to flock to the city to enjoy its natural beauty, cool climate and scenic spots, thus, the need for the implementation of comprehensive peace and order and traffic management plans.
The CREBA-BBC resolution was signed by Mr. Edwin Zamora, Chairman; Engr. Mario ‘Jun’ Alzona, Jr., President and Director; Dr. Cecille Apostol, Executive Vice President and Treasurer; Ms. Feliza Ronquillo, Vice President for External Affairs and Director; Ms. Jennifer Mendoza, Vice President for Internal Affairs and Director; Ms. Socorro Garcia, Auditor and Director and Ms. Geraldine Fajardo, Corporate Secretary and Director.
On the part of the city government, concerned departments initially conducted several consultations in order to gather suggestions and recommendations on how to effectively and efficiently address the expected traffic congestions once visitors flock to the city during the height of crowd drawing events, weekends and holidays.
The CREBA-BBC submitted copies of the approved resolution to the city government for information, guidance and appropriate action in order to provide safety and security as well as convenience to local residents and tourists.
