Along with the holiday season is an influx of planned trips and a bevy of tourists in favorite domestic locations like Baguio. However, more people also means a worsening traffic situation. According to Baguio City Tourism Officer Alec Mapalo, Baguio is expecting at least 150,000 to 200,000 tourists per month this holiday season. Baguio residents have expressed their frustration over the increasing volume of people in the city, leading to an online discourse.
Sorry but having experienced living in Baguio for six years, sobrang rude, entitled, makalat ‘yung mga turista even during off-season. Walang pagrespeto sa local culture, ways and means ng mga tao, at sa environment.
I totally understand why the locals would hate on tourists https://t.co/Fk9sLj7ydj
— Ralph | #ThesisEra (@maroontito) December 19, 2022
Frustrated locals
Airing their frustrations on social media, Baguio residents pleaded with tourists to look elsewhere for a holiday destination. “Hindi lang naman Baguio ang tourist destination sa Pilipinas,” one said.
Such posts and tweets garnered sympathy from fellow residents, but also anger from non-Baguio residents. “Selfish,” one netizen tweeted, while another even cursed the resident.
Why are locals frustrated?
Baguio residents pointed to the high density of people in the city during the holidays. Many tourists bring private cars, which increases heavy traffic and quickly fills up parking spaces. Some locals have also reported that there are cars that obstruct private areas to park.
agree mamsh. the urban decay. the kalat of the tourist and the pollution from the cars nila. kung wala tourist kaming mga taga Baguio mamamasyal at bibili sa mga local stores haha char sorry na ines na talaga ako pota para akong nasa edsa last saturday e may exam pako
— Antntte (@antntte_lyk) December 19, 2022
Meanwhile, tourists who take public transportation may not have another four-wheel vehicle to add to the heavy traffic on the roads, but they instead end up competing with locals for seats in tricycles, jeeps, buses, taxis, and Grabs. One resident even likened the Baguio holiday traffic to the notorious EDSA traffic.
@junlordrinig Kaninang 2pm pa kami nakapila di parin umuusad ang pila sa taxi. Ang hirap umuwi. Nasa may entrance na ng food court ang pila ng taxi. #fy #fyp #baguio ♬ original sound – junlordr on IG
Aside from the heavy traffic, residents are frustrated with some irresponsible tourists who don’t show respect to the places they visit and the people they interact with. Littered trash has increased, while locals have reported many tourists are disrespectful.
Money cannot buy good manners and pakikisama though, based on the replies in this thread. If mahilig ang mga tao magkalat here, baka nagkakalat din sila in real life. At some point, there are diminishing returns
— bongbong marcos, culinarist (@sylioning) December 19, 2022
Residents also point out that even the cool weather that most tourists want isn’t the same as before due to the increasing number of people in the city.
What about tourist-reliant businesses?
Other netizens, however, pointed out that part of Baguio’s economy relies on tourism.
What if isipin mo rin ung mga business dependent sa tourist? Ask your LGU to improve your facilities.
— Felix 🎀 (@IamFELIXthesix) December 19, 2022
But some locals quickly rebutted that the very tourism that has been keeping Baguio’s businesses alive is also slowly killing the city.
Yung mga replies. 🤦♀️
Kung ma-experience niyo lang sana sa inyo kung ano ang karanasan namin dito para ma-realize niyo ang mga concerns namin. Yes tourism ang isa sa mga kabuhayan ng Baguio, but tourism is also slowly killing our home, lalo na from irresponsible tourists. 😭— 🔥ᜐᜒᜇ᜔ᜌᜒᜌ᜔ 🏹✊🏼 (@divergentmockin) December 19, 2022
Call for LGU action
A few netizens suggested that instead of completely shutting out visitors, residents and tourists can meet in the middle, such as using more public transportation and fewer private cars when traveling to and within Baguio.
Being someone from Baguio, it’s high time we demand answers from City Hall. Understandable that we no longer vote for Domogan because of this, but moving forward, what does Magalong want to do about it, especially that he was re-elected?
— bongbong marcos, culinarist (@sylioning) December 19, 2022
Some also called on the local government unit of Baguio to impose an entry limit for tourists, much like during the Sagada Festival earlier this year. Another suggested that the LGU can implement at least a day of no tourists for the local residents.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong asked for patience from the residents, citing tourism as a necessity for economic growth. “Admittedly, we need these tourists for our city’s economic growth since the city has suffered shortfalls in its revenue collections in the past years due to the ongoing Coronovirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” he said, though some disagree with him.
According to the mayor, the LGU is working on concrete measures to lessen traffic jams, most of which will be implemented next year after the holiday season.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Share them with us below!
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