Baguio Plans Congestion Fee to Ease Traffic in Central Business District

Baguio — In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion within its central business district, the Baguio city government is considering the implementation of a PHP250 congestion fee for motorists. Announced on Friday by Aileen Refuerzo, chief of the city information office, this initiative is part of a broader Smart Urban Mobility Project.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) has submitted an unsolicited proposal under a public-private partnership scheme to introduce technologies that enhance transportation system efficiency. This congestion fee, modeled after systems in cities like Singapore, London, and New York, aims to reduce traffic, carbon emissions, and energy usage within the area. The fee is also expected to encourage better driving discipline.

The plan includes exemptions for public utility jeepneys, vehicles driven by senior citizens and persons with disabilities, uniformed personnel on active duty, and emergency response vehicles. Additionally, taxis and government vehicles on official duty will benefit from a discounted rate, and Baguio residents may receive rebates.

The MPTC’s proposal extends beyond managing congestion; it aims to overhaul Baguio’s mobility through a transport service platform, a traffic command center, enhanced parking facilities, and stricter traffic enforcement. The envisioned system would allow residents to check road conditions in real time via mobile apps and reserve parking spaces in advance, thus reducing unnecessary driving and fuel consumption.

Refuerzo also noted that the proposed smart traffic command center would enable quicker responses to road accidents by continuously monitoring road conditions and coordinating emergency response.