ONLY the master development plan will be implemented if any improvement were to be done at Burnham Park.

All proposals that do not conform to the development plan will have to be set aside, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said in reaction to proposals from the private sector to convert Burnham into a theme park.

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He said these proposals are pending at the Burnham Park Management Authority (BPMA) but confirmed a statement from the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC), which many do not favor that a major facelift for any of the city's parks.

"Our direction is to follow the development plan," said the mayor, adding that only the Athletic Bowl and the establishment of some commercial establishments will be modernized.

He added that any major development in the park will also have to be approved not only by the BPMA but also the City Council.

The BTC and other private organization have suggested conversion of Burnham into a theme park as one of the strategies to attract more tourists to come to Baguio.

Some groups favor the proposal but not at Burnham. They prefer the theme park be located somewhere in the List (La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba) areas. (Rimaliza Opiña)