As road crashes rise, Baguio faces stricter enforcement of traffic rules

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The city also wants to launch an educational program on road safety for public utility vehicle groups

BAGUIO CITY – Due to an increase in vehicular accidents this year, residents and tourists should expect a stricter enforcement of traffic rules in the country’s summer capital.

The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) reported that vehicular traffic accidents (VTA) rose from 253 cases on January 1 to April 30 in 2024 to 316 in the same period this year, or a 24.9% increase. 

According to the report, VTA cases involving four-wheeled vehicles increased from 189 to 246. Accidents involving motorcycles increased from 64 to 70. 

Major Marcy Grace Marron, head of the BCPO Public Information Office, attributed this increase to human error, mechanical defects of the vehicles, and the city’s roads. “If we look at the data, most of the causes of the traffic accident are human error or the driver’s error,” Marron said.

To address the problem, BCPO is using a three-pronged approach: enforcement, education, and engineering. 

“As to the enforcement, ‘yun ‘yung strict implementation ng mga traffic laws and ordinances. Kabilang na doon ‘yung mga Anti-Road Obstruction [Ordinance], coding, and ‘yung King of the Road [Ordinance],” Marron explained. (As to the enforcement, it is the strict implementation of traffic laws and ordinances. It includes the Anti-Road Obstruction [Ordinance], coding, and the King of the Road [Ordinance].)

The Anti-Obstruction and Illegal Parking Ordinance compels motor vehicle owners to park only at designated parking areas. On the other hand, the King of the Road Ordinance requires all motorists to slow down at pedestrian crossings and fully stop for at least five seconds.

Marron added that the BCPO has already started engaging with transport groups, especially motorcycle riders, to educate them on road safety and regular vehicle maintenance. 

Road safety seminar

According to a Facebook post by BCPO, they are currently working on a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) groups to launch an educational program on road safety. 

Marron said that BCPO is also collaborating with researchers from the University of the Cordilleras (UC) to conduct a study to learn how to decrease VTA cases in Baguio City.  “Mag-conduct sila [UC researchers] ng research para syempre meron tayong scientific basis on how to analyze ‘yung mga data para magkaroon tayo ng magandang traffic management at ‘yung intervention natin,” Marron said. 

Marron urged drivers in Baguio City, whether tourists or locals, to ensure first that they are fit to drive and to always check the condition of their vehicles.

“Kailangan i-ensure natin na ‘yung sarili natin is fit to drive. Hindi tayo inaantok, hindi tayo nakadroga, [at] hindi tayo nasa influence ng liquor,” Marron said. (We need to ensure first that we are fit to drive. We are not sleepy, we are not on drugs, [and] we are not under the influence of liquor.) – Rappler.com

Jose Emmanuel Thayer is a second-year BA Communication student and campus journalist at the University of the Philippines Baguio. The news editor of UP Baguio Outcrop, he is an Aries Rufo Fellowship candidate from April-May 2025.