BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Baguio City Bureau) – American architect Daniel Burnham designed the City of Baguio as an R&R for U.S. military personnel stationed in the country. As such, the blueprint was for a maximum of 30,000 people.

Today, Baguio City’s population has ballooned to almost 400,000, not including the hundreds of thousands of tourists that flock to the city during festivals and the Christmas and Summer seasons.

Of course, as a result, the traffic situation has become a nightmare.

Well, if Metro Manila can ban provincial buses from plying the EDSA route, why can’t Baguio ban tourists from bringing their private vehicles when vacation in the city?

That’s exactly what Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong did through an Executive Order.

Effective June 1, 2023, tourists visiting Baguio will be prohibited from driving their private cars. They have to take public buses.

“This will significantly ease the traffic situation all year round,” Magalong told The Adobo Chronicles.

The mayor said that with the number of taxi cabs and the new modern jeepneys plying routes in the city, it will be easy for tourists to navigate the tourist spots in Baguio. He added that Baguio is a “walking city” so it’s not necessary for tourists to bring their cars just to congest traffic.

So welcome to all tourists. Come to Baguio… as a friend!