Baguio City suspends pedestrianization experiment due to traffic

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Baguio's Sunday pedestrianization experiment on Session Road is on hold due to ongoing traffic issues. This program, which turned a busy downtown street into a pedestrian-only area, featured activities like chalk art and food markets. The city council recently asked Mayor Benjamin Magalong to pause the project and review its effects on local traffic. The initiative, called "Sunday Session," started in 2019 under Mayor Magalong. It aimed to ease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and encourage public transport use. The program also helped local businesses recover after the COVID-19 pandemic by providing a space for them to operate. However, city councilors have raised concerns about the impact of closing Session Road on traffic during the week. According to traffic analyst John Vincent Niñalga, approximately 19,000 vehicles travel this road daily. The council is now considering the need for an ordinance to regulate the Sunday closures and address these traffic concerns. Currently, the program operates based on temporary executive orders rather than a formal law.