BAGUIO CITY – The City government will embark on widening barangay roads that serve as alternate routes going inside and outside the city while working out funding of the construction of the outer circumferential road interconnecting the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) areas to effectively and efficiently address expected traffic congestion from future influx of visitors.
Because of the rapid growth in the number of motor vehicles flocking daily to the city proper, the need for motorists to cooperate with the strict implementation of no parking signages and the city’s anti-obstruction policy, as Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan admitted the local government can only implement minimal traffic intervention.
“We are aware that the government is inclined to implement major infrastructure projects that will significantly reduce the travel time from the lowlands to the city that is why we expect the influx of more visitors in the future, thus, the city must be ready to address the expected traffic jams that will happen,” Domogan stressed.
He added included among the projects to be implemented next year is the widening of several of the city’s barangay roads that serve as alternate routes going to and from the central business district to be availed by motorists to avoid being caught in traffic in the city proper.
According to him the completion of the interior circumferential road has allowed varied routes going to and from the western part of the city in Irisan and its eastern part in Happy Hallow.
Domogan claimed the priority of the BLISTT Governing Council is for the completion of the outer circumferential road that will interconnect the city with the neighboring towns of Benguet to help boost the tourism industry of the different localities considering there are numerous scenic places which can be visited and is expected to improve the tourism industry in the areas.
Domogan emphasized the realization of the Metro Baguio growth development will be a major factor in helping improve the development of the surrounding municipalities of Benguet and for the BLISTT to have a comprehensive development plan that will guarantee better economic opportunities for prospective investors in the said areas in the future.
Part of the initiatives being undertaken by private higher education institutions located in the central business district is for the establishment of their respective campuses outside the city proper to help in expanding development opportunities to potential growth areas not only within the city but also in the towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
He expressed gratitude to the local officials of the neighboring towns for their support and initiatives to help in the realization of the BLISTT development concept that will result to improvement in their respective localities once implementation of the plan is in full swing.
By Dexter A. See
