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Dear LGU and Tourists, Let Baguio Breathe. Sincerely, Locals

Dear LGU and Tourists, Let Baguio Breathe. Sincerely, Locals

Dec 22, 2022   •   Meryl Medel

Along with the holiday season is an influx of planned trips and a bevy of tourists in favorite domestic locations like Baguio. However, more people also means a worsening traffic situation. According to Baguio City Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo, Baguio is expecting at least 150,000 to 200,000 tourists per month this holiday season. Baguio residents have expressed their frustration over the increasing volume of people in the city, leading to an online discourse.

 

Frustrated locals

Airing their frustrations on social media, Baguio residents pleaded with tourists to look elsewhere for a holiday destination. “Hindi lang naman Baguio ang tourist destination sa Pilipinas,” one said.

Such posts and tweets garnered sympathy from fellow residents, but also anger from non-Baguio residents. “Selfish,” one netizen tweeted, while another even cursed the resident.

 

Why are locals frustrated?

Baguio residents pointed to the high density of people in the city during the holidays. Many tourists bring private cars, which increases heavy traffic and quickly fills up parking spaces. Some locals have also reported that there are cars that obstruct private areas to park.

Meanwhile, tourists who take public transportation may not have another four-wheel vehicle to add to the heavy traffic on the roads, but they instead end up competing with locals for seats in tricycles, jeeps, buses, taxis, and Grabs. One resident even likened the Baguio holiday traffic to the notorious EDSA traffic.

@junlordrinig Kaninang 2pm pa kami nakapila di parin umuusad ang pila sa taxi. Ang hirap umuwi. Nasa may entrance na ng food court ang pila ng taxi. #fy #fyp #baguio ♬ original sound – junlordr on IG

Aside from the heavy traffic, residents are frustrated with some irresponsible tourists who don’t show respect to the places they visit and the people they interact with. Littered trash has increased, while locals have reported many tourists are disrespectful.

Residents also point out that even the cool weather that most tourists want isn’t the same as before due to the increasing number of people in the city.

 

What about tourist-reliant businesses?

Other netizens, however, pointed out that part of Baguio’s economy relies on tourism.

But some locals quickly rebutted that the very tourism that has been keeping Baguio’s businesses alive is also slowly killing the city.

 

Call for LGU action

A few netizens suggested that instead of completely shutting out visitors, residents and tourists can meet in the middle, such as using more public transportation and fewer private cars when traveling to and within Baguio.

Some also called on the local government unit of Baguio to impose an entry limit for tourists, much like during the Sagada Festival earlier this year. Another suggested that the LGU can implement at least a day of no tourists for the local residents.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong asked for patience from the residents, citing tourism as a necessity for economic growth. “Admittedly, we need these tourists for our city’s economic growth since the city has suffered shortfalls in its revenue collections in the past years due to the ongoing Coronovirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” he said, though some disagree with him.

According to the mayor, the LGU is working on concrete measures to lessen traffic jams, most of which will be implemented next year after the holiday season.

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Meryl finds joy in music, movies, museums, and making her way around the world.

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