Mayor: Solutions, not only criticisms

AMID challenges brought about by the rapid urbanization of Baguio City, Mayor Mauricio Domogan dared his critics to offer solutions to numerous problems of the city.

Domogan, during his 103rd Baguio Day celebrations speech, said a strong sense of community can be achieved if everyone is united in finding solutions to the city's problems on garbage, traffic, pollution and rapid urbanization.

The mayor stressed collective effort is important in solving the city's problems.

"We failed because of personal interest and disunity. It's time for us to stop only being observers and spectators giving harsh criticisms and instead start participating in ways to improve and sustain our city's growth," he said.

He said several sectors remain critical of the City Government despite efforts of city officials to solve problems on rapid population growth and urbanization resulting in threats to the environment and the city's remaining natural resources.

"There will be no achievement if we remain individualistic and paddle our own cause to gain personal credits," he said.

With the onset of the 2013 election just a month away with the start of the filing of Certificates of Candidacies on October, he said there will be critics with own self-interest in mind ready to cause fragmentation only to be noticed for the coming elections.

"How can we achieve our dreams of a peaceful educational and tourism oriented city if we remain fragmented and disunited," he said.

Saint Louis University president Fr. Jessie Hechanova, this year's guest of honor and speaker, also challenged officials and residents to find solutions to the city's growing problems on rapid urbanization resulting to solid waste, peace and order problems, traffic congestion, scarcity of resources and environmental degradation.

Hechanova said SLU has started with the relocation of other programs to their Bakakeng campus in order to reach their concept of decongesting the city's Central Business District.

He asked owners of industries, businesses and schools in the city to do the same and push for the Metro Baguio development as exemplified in the BLISTT (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay) concept to also spur growth in adjoining towns of the city.

Next year, SLU will start their housing project in Sablan to further adhere to the concept of relocating out of the Central Business District.

The 103rd Baguio Charter Day celebration was attended by different sectors from the government, schools, private sector with the highlight focused on the awarding of seven Outstanding Citizens of Baguio.

A parade with a historical theme also transpired after the program at the Baguio Convention Center.

The parade was highlighted by a live diorama composed of students and school employees depicting stages in Baguio history that include the Spanish, American, Japanese periods as well as important events such as the arrival of the Americans with the construction of Kennon Road, arrival of Thomasites and creation of Camp John Hay, among others.