BAGUIO CITY – Road closures, one-way and two-way road schemes, parking areas, and road contingencies for Panagbenga 2016 were presented to public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers in a forum at city hall last Wednesday.
The 21st version of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga starts Feb. 1, with traditional and community-led activities for five weeks ending March 6. Some of the activities are on main roads, thus the need for vehicle passage re-routing.
Some main roads are closed from 12:01 AM of February 1 for the flower festival opening parade, for the grand streetdancing parade on Feb. 27 and floral float parade on Feb. 28.
Included in the closure are both sides of South Drive-Teacher’s Camp-Panagbenga Park-Camp John Hay Rotunda up to Session road and Magsaysay Avenue intersection; both sides of Abanao-Magsaysay intersection-Abad Santos-Calderon intersection; Abad Santos drive; and Athletic Bowl.
Roads to be closed from 4AM of mentioned dates are Magsaysay Avenue (junction of Bonifacio st.) up to Abanao-Harrison intersection; Shanum street junction-Harrison road up to junction Rizal Park; and Abanao junction Magsaysay avenue junction with Shuntog st.
On Feb. 29 up to March 6; Session road up to Session Rd-Magsaysay Avenue junction is closed for Session Road in Bloom; with vehicle passage from upper Mabini to lower Mabini street. Abad Santos Drive is closed from Feb. 1 to March 6 for the Baguio Blooms event.
According to Baguio City Police Office Traffic Management Bureau (BCPO-TMB) head Leon Talleo, all roads will be immediately opened after the activity. PUV drivers however are advised to acquaint themselves with the re-routing, loading and parking schemes, follow the set traffic rules and regulations, and maintain discipline among themselves. This was reiterated by newly-appointed BCPO officer-in-charge George Daskeo.
Signages shall be posted in appropriate places, it was known.
Blue trunkline PUVS or those passing through Magsaysay Ave. shall unload passengers at Slaughterhouse and go back to the place of origin. There were suggestions that due to huge cement culverts along the roadside, u-turn should be done further up the road. This is being considered and those concerned informed, Talleo said.
Trancoville jeepneys going toward the central business district through Magsaysay ave. shall use Bonifacio st. and Rimando road towards place of origin. Aurora Hill jeepneys turn around the rotunda and use Rimando road going back. Passenger loading and unloading may be done in Bonifacio st.
Yellow trunkline jeepneys or those using Naguilian road shall take Shuntog st and Abanao road, back to Naguilian road.
Red trunkline jeepneys, or PUVs passing through Teachers’ Camp or Leonard Wood road shall use Gen. Luna Rd and Happy Glenn Loop back to their place of origin. Loading and unloading may be done near the BENECO office, the advisory states.
Green trunkline jeepneys, those using Loakan road shall unload at old Camp John Hay gate in front of Nevada square, back to their place of origin. PUVs passing through Kennon road shall load and unload along Harrison or Gov. Pack road. PUVs using Marcos Highway shall traverse Legarda and Kisad roads back to their place of origin.
Jeepney lines not affected by traffic scheme may go on their usual routes, Talleo added.
During the opening, streetdancing and float parades, there shall strictly be no parking in the following places: General Luna, Mabini St., Harrison junction Abanao and Shanum junction Abad Santos Drive, Jose Abad Santos Drive, Athletic Bowl, Luneta Hill Road, Session Road-Military Cut-off Rotunda and Magsaysay Avenue junction, Legarda Road, Magsaysay Ave. junction-Bonifacio Harrison Road-Magsaysay Ave. intersection.
During the Session Road in Bloom, there shall be no parking at Leonard Wood road from North drive junction; Post Office loop junction with Session road up to Fr. Carlu Loop, Upper Mabini st. crossing Session road until Lower Mabini street.
Pay parking for private vehicles within the CBD and nearby areas are available at Center Mall, Porta Vaga/Cathedral, Abanao Square, Marbay and SM. Pay parking at the old city library is open for 24 hours, but vehicles will not be allowed entry within Jose Abad Santos drive towards the parking area after 6:30 AM during the major parades.
The Baguio City National High School can allow 70 light vehicles, only during the streetdancing and float parade weekend.
The Baguio Convention Center can accommodate 30 to 40 vehicles, and recommended as terminal for buses. Quezon and Mabini Elementary Schools can accommodate light vehicle parking for a fee; as with University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, Cooyesan and Recoletos Seminary.
In the advisory, one-lane parallel roadside parking with restrictions, some for light vehicles only, are allowed from 6:30 AM until the culmination of the parade, along the following roads:
Gov. Pack road, outbound side only; Naguilian Road; Bokawkan Road: Magsaysay Ave. from Supreme Hotel until Lucban Elementary School; Sto. Tomas North Road from Marcos Highway junction; Gen. Lim St. from Legarda Rd. junction; MH Del Pilar St. (right side ascending lane); Kisad Rd. from its junction with Abad Santos until Kisad Road Extension; Kisad Rd. from Rocio Inn until the PUJ staging area; Military Cut-off from its junction with Kennon road to Kubong Sawali;
Government Center Rd. opposite of PAGASA to the corner of Convention Center; Kalaw St.; Bonifacio St., after the Rotunda up to T. Alonzo St. junction right; Harrison Rd. at the Loading/Unloading Bay infront of UC and on the side of BCNHS; Brent Rd. from Bell International School until the junction with Gen. Luna Rd.; Salvosa Drive; Bautista Drive; Abanao St. from its junction with Shuntog St. until Sunshine Grocery; Abanao St. from Corner Zandueta St. to Peña Apartment Corner; Magsaysay Road (from Slaughter area until the Private Road; Leonard Wood Road on the side of the Botanical Garden.
All other roads and streets within CBD not affected by the event venues/routes without parking restriction may be used.
Trucks and buses are not allowed to enter CBD after 6AM of Feb. 1, 27 and 28 and during the events, the traffic advisory states.
One-way roads are: Gen. Lim Street – 1-way descending (from Legarda Road to Kisad Road); MH. Del Pilar Street – 1-way ascending (from Kisad Road to Legarda Road).
All PUJ associations affected by the rerouting scheme should be on express system. Public Utility Vehicles with Loading Terminals along/within the affected areas shall be temporarily restricted from entering such places until such roads/streets are declared clear for vehicle passage.
All vehicles parked along the parade route beyond 6:00AM shall be towed, the traffic advisory read. /Julie G. Fianza
