Department of Tourism will rehab top tourist spots in Baguio

The Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat arrived at Baguio City last January 10, 2020 to oversee the developments in the City of Pines’ long-planned rehabilitation.

The DOT, together with its agency partners, met to openly discuss the updates for Baguio City’s rehabilitation program. (L-R): Baguio City Representative Marquez Go; DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; DILG Secretary Eduardo Año; and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

The inter-agency taskforce composed of the DOT, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) met to openly discuss the updates for Baguio City’s rehabilitation program. This inter-agency collaboration follows the success of the Boracay and Manila Bay rehab initiatives.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and TIEZA CEO Pocholo Paragas to formalize the DOT’s investment of PHP 480 million for the rehabilitation of Baguio City’s Burnham Park, through its infrastructure arm TIEZA.

There are serious concerns have been raised over Baguio City. It is seemingly unabated urban development and overtourism, leading to big-city problems like traffic, overcrowding, water shortages, and growing pollution.

One of the major issues here is determining the ideal number of tourists that can be accommodated without harming or affecting the environment while meeting the expectations of the visitors and respecting the needs and preserving the culture of the locals. Currently, Baguio City has an estimated 370,000 population, and nearly 800 thousand tourist arrivals were recorded from the months of January to September 2019 alone.

Together with its investment arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Deparment of Tourism will be commencing the rehabilitation of Burnham Park with an earmarked budget of PHP 480 million.

Based on the signed Memorandum of Agreement, the budget will be allocated to the:

Landscaping, lighting, and electrical works; hardscape and softscape
Construction of view deck and boat docking
Installation of terrace planters; view deck renovation
Plant box improvement for the Burnham Lake
Hardscape and softscape
Gazebo and restroom construction
Installation of play equipment for the children’s playground.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, together with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, visited the Burnham Park site. Specific spots that will undergo major rehabilitation are the Burnham Lake and children’s playground.

According to the Tourism Chief, the City of Pines’ rehabilitation will also entail the improvement of premiere tourist spots, revival and preservation of its ecological health, proper land use and zoning, building of a sewerage treatment plant, enhancement of street lights and pedestrian areas, construction of efficient road networks, and modernizing of transportation. All of these are geared towards highlighting and preserving the vivid culture and distinct artistry of the Cordilleras.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, together with Baguio City officials, went to Brgy. North Sanitary Camp to inspect the upgrading of the Baguio Sewerage Treatment Plant. The officials also discussed the present condition of the Balili-Sagudin River easements to ensure the quality of water disposed to City’s river system. In addition, the DOT Chief raised concerns over the settlements on the slopes of the mountains, and the plans for these structures located in seemingly geohazard areas.

We believe that this is just the BEGINNING. In future months, we hope that more sustainable tourism plans will be threshed out and implemented, so the city of Baguio can establish itself as another shining beacon of sustainable development while recapturing all of its former glory.

TOP BAGUIO PLACES TO BE REHABILITED:

Burnharm Park

Here’s the proposed redevelopment of Burnharm Park.

Minesview Park

Balili River

I can’t believe that there are people who are living here

Baguio City’s sewage treatment plant

There is hope on the horizon. Just like their previous collective efforts have demonstrated, rehabilitation is possible when done properly and when everyone is convinced of the merits of sustainable tourism development. The current thrust of the Department of Tourism is to encourage everyone to #SaveOurSpots, instilling the culture of responsible tourism and greater concern for our environment.”