Baguio mayor suspends classes as tourist influx causes road congestion

THE NOV. 13-15 holiday declared in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Pampanga for the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit has drawn tourists to Baguio, creating heavy road congestion in the mountain city, which has prompted the mayor to declare a suspension of classes on Nov. 14-15. The suspension applies to all public and private schools from preschool to high school. Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, in an announcement posted on his social media page Tuesday morning, said: “Classes… in the City of Baguio are suspended from Tuesday to Wednesday due to the influx of tourists… as felt yesterday with the ASEAN Summit happening in Manila and Clark.” Baguio, known as the summer capital of the Philippines, is located about 250 kilometers north of Metro Manila. Social media posts by Baguio residents referred to the gridlock as ‘carmageddon.’