Baguio City has once again raised the idea of implementing a congestion fee within city limits.
In a Facebook post by the Baguio City Public Information Office, the local government said it was eyeing a P250 congestion fee for private cars entering the central business district.
The local government says the new congestion fee project is part of a proposed project during a public consultation on June 5. It was submitted by the Metro Pacific Tollways (MPTC).
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Under the plan, public modes of transportation like jeepneys will be exempted from paying the congestion fee. The same goes for vehicles driven by senior citizens and persons with disability, emergency response vehicles, and those driven by uniformed personnel while on duty.
The city says the congestion fee’s implementation will be similar to congestion fees collected in Singapore, London, Stockholm, and New York City.
According to the MPTC, implementing a congestion fee in Baguio City’s central business district may reduce carbon emissions and promote disciplined driving. It will also supposedly provide added revenue for the local economy.
Baguio City’s local government says the MPTC is labeling the plan as a “holistic approach to solving not only traffic but improving overall mobility.”
“The corporation envisions a Singapore-like transport system in Baguio where the riding public can monitor road conditions in real-time using mobile applications as well as book or reserve parking spaces prior to arrival to lessen the amount of time and petroleum consumed going around looking for possible parking sites,” the city’s Facebook post reads.
“Road accidents will likewise be addressed immediately if the smart traffic command center is in place to monitor roads and dispatch responders if necessary,” it added.
According to city administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña, the city is now “on the negotiating table” to discuss the proposed project’s terms and conditions. Do you think implementing a congestion fee will help solve the Summer Capital’s traffic woes?
