IT TOOK long in coming but the long dormant Baguio, la Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba (Blist) expanded corridor appears to be finally taking shape.

The Blist vision arose out of the 1990 earthquake from European city and town planners who lent their expertise resulting from their assistance in helping replan and rebuild the damage brought about by the killer quake which hit Baguio and its environs.

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Through the ensuing years, however, their recommendations were generally put on hold. Lately, the officials of the adjoining Benguet towns through their municipal mayors have warmed up to the idea of the possible adoption of the Blist concept.

If finally adopted and activated, both the city and the towns involved may find mutual advantages and benefits from the plan. Baguio is now of course up to the hilt in population growth due to unmitigated migration from the neighboring provinces.

This has resulted to multiple problems related to socio-economic difficulties and the daily traffic mess it has to contend with. While the city is now undoubtedly the established educational center in the north, this has also spawned related problems in student congestion.

Even the drug menace has crept in including occasional disruptions in the local peace and order situation. An expanded Blist area is seen to diffuse the tight people congestion in the city. With it, also goes some of the lesser social problems.

And what about the municipalities involved in the plan? In a way, it may also help boost their respective economies and commerce with added revenues from the expected spillover of people into their respective jurisdictions.

It may also help boost their development efforts although they may have to impose a tight watch on ensuing social problems. Some say, a small enough price in return for development and growth.

For some time now, a special projects committee of the Baguio Centennial Commission chaired by Commissioner Joseph Alabanza has gone through the paces of planning beyond 2009.

Under its enabling city ordinance the CenteCom mandate expires on December 31, 2009. The Alabanza committee, however, saw the need for planning beyond 2009 which, more or less, revolves around the BLIST concept. And the prospects for the evolution of such plan have never been brighter than now.

In fact, the chief executives of the towns covered by the Blist program appear to be now in a receptive mood. Last Friday, on the initiative of Director of Juan B. Ngalob of the National Economic Development Authority, Cordillera Administrative Region (NEDA-CAR), a technical working group of the Blist mayors forum held a meeting at the Baguio Convention Center, hosted by the Baguio City government.

Significantly, the meeting worked on the following: 1. Finalization of the work and financial plan; 2. Identification of data indicators required for the master-planning activity and 3. Other matters related to the BLIST plan.

Ngalob presided over the meeting as co-convenor and head of the Technical Working Group, Blist Mayors’ Forum. All these developments appear to be steps in the right direction in so far as the possible activation of the BLIST concept is concerned.

The plan has germinated long enough; it’s time something definite shaped up for the benefit of the projected BLIST expanded corridor.

Other Updates.

1. In preparation for the upcoming Baguio Centenary on September 1, 2009, CenteCom chairman Dr. Virgilio C. Bautista has called on representatives of educational institutions in the city to help plan the projected Baguio centennial parade on the city’s 100th charter day.

The assistance of the local educational institutions in this regard is considered focal in fostering an awareness of Baguio’s rich cultural heritage over the past 100 years. Bautista said the centennial parade will be a mobile diorama presenting a historical account on how Baguio became a melting pot of different cultures.

2. The CenteCom has endorsed the establishment of Baguio Historical and Mining Museum within a 1.5 hectare area at the old Dominican Hill monastery,

3. In reaction to a resolution of the Baguio City Council tasking the CenteCom to prepare and update a comprehensive city parks development plan for 2009, the commission instead recommended the creation of a City Parks Authority which will in turn come up with the requested comprehensive city parks development plan for 2009.

4. The programmed obelisk honoring city pioneer families will be constructed at Wright Park. The site of the obelisk will be at the top of the staris.

The location is said to be within the line of axis of the kiosk at Wright Park, the Pacdal Circle and the City Hall, and 5.

The CenteCom accepted an offer of the Tuba municipal government for the erection of centennial arches on the road boundaries of Baguio and Tuba at Kennon Road, Palispis-Aspiras national Highway (formerly Marcos Highway), Quirino Highway (formerly Naguilian Road), Baguio-Santo Tomas national Road, and Baguio-Asin Hot Springs Road.