Progress continues on the long-anticipated Baguio City Integrated Terminal (BCIT) as the Baguio City Council approved Proposed on its second reading for publication the “Baguio City Integrated Terminal (BCIT) and Public Utility Buses and Public Utility Vans Regulation Ordinance of 2026″ during its July 20 regular session.
Introduced by Councilor Fred Bagbagen and certified as urgent by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the measure establishes the operational guidelines to centralize provincial transport, eliminate illegal terminals, and prohibit unauthorized roadside loading or unloading along city thoroughfares.
Following its first reading on June 29, the measure moved forward under a committee report from the Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Traffic Legislation; however, committee members and councilors Leandro Yangot Jr., Edison Bilog, and Joel Alangsab abstained or inhibited themselves from signing the endorsement, citing their previous abstentions on the overall terminal project or noting they were not yet City Council members when the underlying agreement was originally deliberated and approved.
The landmark public-private partnership project is being undertaken by Megawide Construction Corporation under a 40-year lease agreement signed on January 21, 2026.
Set to rise on property covered by usufruct agreements with the Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Animal Industry, the intermodal terminal aims to significantly ease severe congestion in Baguio’s Central Business District. A primary driver for the ordinance is the upcoming closure of the informal, high-density terminal along Governor Pack Road, which currently sits on property owned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
As the DENR prepares to reclaim the land for its own development, all provincial public utility buses (PUBs) and public utility vans operating along Governor Pack Road will be mandated to transfer their end-of-route operations exclusively to the BCIT once the facility receives its occupancy permit.
Under the proposed measure, all PUBs and public utility vans entering Baguio via Ben Palispis Highway (formerly Marcos Highway) that currently utilize Governor Pack Road must terminate and conduct all passenger and cargo drop-offs and pick-ups at the new hub.
Transport operators maintaining valid, authorized private terminals outside of Governor Pack Road, as well as those entering Baguio via other routes, may continue using their existing facilities or opt to utilize the BCIT without prejudice to their current operations.
Meanwhile, local in-city public utility vehicles, including public utility jeepneys, modern jeepneys, taxis, and ride-hailing services (TNVS), will be permitted to access the terminal for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups without being required to make the hub their primary terminal.
To ensure smooth operations ahead of the hub’s opening, covered transport operators are required to submit their proposed terminal schedules and parking space applications to Megawide and the city government no later than three months prior to the Required Completion Date or Construction Completion Date (whichever comes earlier), with bay allocations distributed based on operational capacity without special preference.
To enforce orderly urban mobility, the proposed ordinance strictly prohibits any provincial bus or van from loading or unloading passengers and cargo along undesignated city roads or sidewalks.
Violators face progressive penalties, starting with a P3,000 fine for the first offense, a P5,000 fine for the second offense, and vehicle impoundment along with a recommendation for LTFRB franchise revocation for the third offense.
Additionally, the city government will permanently dismantle all illegal or non-compliant private transport terminals and cease issuing business permits for any new private bus or van terminals along Marcos Highway.
Enforced by the City Traffic and Transportation Management Office, Baguio City Police Office, and concerned departments, the ordinance establishes a modernized transport gateway to promote commuter safety, public welfare, and environmental sustainability for commuters, tourists, and residents alike. – Gerald Matulay (UC BA Comm Student/SP Intern)
