Monday, July 07, 2008 Dole supports Blist dev't concept By Jane Cadalig
THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is supportive of the establishment of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba (Blist) concept, saying Baguio City's nearby towns need to be opened for economic development.
Dole Regional Director Anna Dione said the Blist urban development concept needs to be implemented now with Baguio becoming more and more overcrowded.
"I think the very concept of the Blist is to develop the nearby areas for economic growth and it's high time that this is implemented. With Baguio's current situation, the city (is doomed) to burst if development continues," Dione said.
She said the nearby towns of Baguio should open up for development. The Blist urban development was conceptualized after the 1990 earthquake purposely to improve and pour in economic development to areas surrounding the city.
Baguio's nearby Benguet municipalities like La Trinidad, Sablan or Tuba could be developed as expansion areas for the information technology (IT) industry, Dione said, although admitting lack of facilities remains one of the biggest challenges for these areas to become IT zones.
But Dione said the neighboring towns have the potential of being developed IT areas, given the proper support.
The City Government has been initiating talks with the Blist officials to revive and implement the Blist concept.
Neighboring towns have been lukewarm however, apprehensive that their areas would only serve as expansion for housing projects or sites for the establishment of garbage facility.
Baguio's economic boom has brought in social and environmental problems, as consequences of the rapid growth of its population.
