Baguio pushes for 50-Peso congestion fee for tourists bringing private vehicle

Baguio City, Philippines – Baguio council recently approved a proposed ordinance seeking to impose a P50.00 congestion fee for all tourists bringing their private vehicles to the place.

The council said the measure aims to reduce the traffic problem in the city.

Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio reported that the ordinance Nr. PO 0047-22 entitled “Congestion fee ordinance in Baguio,” authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. and Faustino A. Olowan which was first introduced in 2019, has been approved on the first reading.

Under the proposed ordinance, congestion fee will be collected by the local government of Baguio city from the tourists with private vehicles upon entering the place.

Further, the collected congestion fee shall be deposited in a trust fund for programs and activities for improving traffic conditions.

The residents of Baguio, however, shall be exempted from paying the congestion fee.

Other possible exemptions

Councilor Yangot added that he may revise the proposed ordinance to exempt the residents of La Trinidad - Itogon - Sablan - Tuba - Tublay (LISTT) areas, as well as Cordillera, from paying the congestion fee.

By imposing the mandatory congestion fee on visitors taking their private cars to Baguio, Yangot hopes that traffic in the city will at least be minimized to a manageable level.

Meantime, said ordinance was submitted to the local legislative body for review and recommendation to be presented on the second and third readings.

Earlier Mayor Magalong said that the proposed ordinance is good but it needs to go through proper hearing processes. The mayor revealed that the congestion fee is one of the components of the smart mobility master plan in the city.

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