Baguio to exempt senior citizens from number coding scheme
Baguio City is considering exempting senior citizens from the Number Coding Scheme.
This means vehicles transporting residents 60 years old and above, whether as drivers or passengers, can freely traverse the city roads within the central business district any day without being apprehended by traffic enforcers.
Jordan Habbiling, Baguio City Council information officer, noted that the exemption from the number coding applies only to senior citizens who are Baguio residents and travel to and from medical clinics, hospitals, or places of work.
Likewise, Councilor Jose Molintas, author of the amendatory ordinance, echoed the same matter, saying that the amended ordinance "is only for the elderly who need to navigate around the Central Business District (CBD) for medical appointments and work purposes."
Molintas said the exemption would make things much easier for senior citizens, giving them even more benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. He explained that the change would especially help seniors get medical care and make commuting easier. This is because many seniors still work, and these restrictions were a hassle for them.
On Monday, July 8, the city council approved the ordinance on the third and final reading. The proposal is now with Mayor Benjamin Magalong for his approval before it can take effect.
Concerns, doubts
The Public Order and Safety Division (POSD), which helps enforce traffic rules, worries it might be difficult to check if the senior citizen is actually a Baguio resident. It would also be difficult to verify if they're a senior citizen and are going to a medical appointment or work.
POSD Head Daryll Longid said it would cause more traffic if enforcers had to flag down vehicles on the road.
Molintas, however, believes they should give seniors the benefit of the doubt.
“It is important to assume that seniors' travel purposes are honest. By prioritizing the presumption of honesty as our guiding principle, we can create a more cohesive and trustworthy community,” Molintas stated.
Currently, the following are exempted from the Number Coding Scheme:
- vehicles with red plates;
- chartered mini-buses from outside the City of Baguio used for lakbay-aral or excursion purposes;
- vehicles of the Philippine Postal Corporation used for mail delivery;
- armored cars used by banks for bulk money transfer;
- motor vehicles used in cases of emergency posing danger to life and limb;
- water delivery trucks when assisting in fire control;
- service vehicles of public utility companies performing emergency repairs within the number coding zone;
- school services registered by the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board ferrying preschool,
- elementary, and high school students from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in schools located within the number coding zone;
- and private motor vehicles and chartered public utility vehicles of visitors, tourists, vacationers, or participants of sanctioned activities such as conventions, conferences, and assemblies.
This is the fourth amendment to the city's number coding scheme, passed in 2008. It restricts vehicles from operating within designated zones, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD), from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. based on the last digit of their license plates, with specific days assigned to different numbers.
Prior to this, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the city were exempt from paying parking fees in all business establishments, whether operated by the government, barangay, or private entities.