Magalong pushes Baguio rehab

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government here is determined to manage its resources, population and tourism industry to raise its carrying capacity, stunt urban spoil and cope with climate-induced disasters.

During a public-private partnership investment summit held on Oct. 4 and 5, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said mitigation and adaptation plans should be implemented to delay if not reverse urban decay as well as cope with the effects of climate change.

He stressed the need to implement “strategic and catalytic” projects to address the city’s environmental, economic and social needs.

City planning development and sustainability office coordinator Donna Tabangin presented the local government’s growth node model that charts the city’s urban spatial development.

Tabangin said the city should manage its resources, improve its services and go for diversification and innovation.

She said Baguio has 59 ongoing “catalytic projects,” which address the city’s seven-point agenda, including managing the environment, land use and energy, expanding climate and disaster resilience and strengthening urban regeneration.

Magalong has vowed to rehabilitate the city, which has breached its carrying capacity for open spaces, road network, water supply, forest cover, land for development, waste collection and treatment due to increasing population and tourist arrivals.