Truck ban is anti-BLISTT

LA TRINIDAD Councilor Nestor Fongwan Jr. on Thursday said banning vegetable trucks is not a way of promoting cooperation in the realization of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay concept.

"They are trying to promote cooperation by creating the BLISTT and they are telling us that we should cooperate with the City of Baguio but how can they now promote cooperation when they enact an ordinance trying to ban our vegetable truckers who pass by Baguio," said Fongwan Jr. who is also the chair of the Philippine Councilors League – Benguet.

Fongwan said before

enacting the ordinance, city officials should have consulted all stakeholders and should find routes that would benefit both truckers and the city.

"No consultations were made. What they know is that by banning trucks coming from La Trinidad they would improve the traffic flow of Baguio City," Fongwan said. "They may be correct on that point but on one side, they are promoting BLISTT cooperation, they should not enact an ordinance that would give discomfort and inconvenience and would delay the delivery of the goods."

During holiday season last December, the League of Associations at La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Area Inc., one of the largest providers of highland vegetables in the country, wrote the mayor seeking consideration regarding the city’s truck ban ordinance.

However, the mayor said he would find means but have no power to exempt them.

"With the urgency of the matter, the council could have allowed Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan to issue an executive order. We are talking about banning trucks that's millions of vegetables worth," said Fongwan added.

"Ipit-ipiten da met ti La Trinidad ti truck ban, unfair the met ah," Fongwan said adding banning vegetable truckers affects those coming not only from La Trinidad but also other municipalities in Benguet and Mt. Province.

Last year, Baguio City Representative Mark Go filed in Congress the BLISTT concept seen to solve traffic congestion, garbage and over population in the city.

Go added the filing of the BLISTT will also be a welcome development for nearby municipalities not just the Summer Capital but the whole of Benguet creating more job opportunities for the community, promote tourism within the area.

The BLISTT Joint Development Concept was later signed by Domogan.