BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
Road rehabilitation along Abanao Street and Baguio-Bauang Road has begun, but some jeepney drivers are already raising concerns over the new traffic scheme that came with the project.
Dante Alacar, a jeepney driver, said the construction, along with the recent fuel price hikes, has significantly affected their daily income.
“We really can’t provide proper service anymore,” he said. “Commuters need us, but now we’re struggling.”
Alacar and other drivers say traffic congestion has worsened since the rerouting began.
“We’re experiencing heavy traffic going to our terminal,” he explained. “And because of the long queues of passengers, it takes more time for us to return.”
According to Alacar, they used to make eight to nine trips a day, but now they’re down to just six due to the delays.
“Because of the traffic, our engines are left idling for a long time. Our passengers are also lining up for longer, especially since our route reaches as far as KM6,” he said.
The rerouting started on May 21 to give way to the drainage and road reblocking project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Baguio District Engineering Office.
The total project spans 217 meters, from the upper section of Abanao Street to the Baguio-Bauang Road near Camp Allen.
Engineer Cesario Rillera, chief of the planning and design section, explained that the road is already in poor condition.
“The road is old and damaged. There are crocodile cracks and scaling. Every time it rains, the asphalt we lay gets ruined,” he said.
He added that the area also suffers from frequent flooding, which is why they are installing a new drainage system.
“Water flows strongly from Camp Allen, but our current drainage leads toward Bokawkan Road. We’re redirecting the flow to a large box culvert along Maharlika Road,” Rillera explained.
The road rehabilitation costs 14.7 million pesos, while the drainage project is budgeted at 4 million pesos.
The DPWH aims to complete the work by August 15, before the rainy season peaks.
To lessen the impact on traffic, Rillera said, “We’ve instructed the contractor to work 24/7 to get the job done faster.”
He added that they’ve coordinated with the Baguio City Police Office for traffic management and asked for patience from the public.
“We ask for your understanding. Once the project is completed, it will really make a difference,” he said.
