DINOSAURS may roam the expanse of Burnham Park.
Baguio City Councilor Maylen Yaranon is sounding the alarm over an unsolicited proposal of Dinosaur Island at Burnham Park reservation in the Pines Tree of the World.
Yaranon said the proposal from the Thermozone Philippine Corporation has been submitted to the local council’s Public Private Partnership for the People Initiative [P4] selection committee on August 8.
“I am against it, the area must not be touched, and any part of Burnham must not be,” Yaranon said.
Yaranon said she was not present during the meeting but is adamant about her stand on the preservation and protection of Burnham Park and open spaces.
“They said that only footprints of dinosaurs will be put in the area, but eventually, it will be in need of amenities like ticketing, bathrooms, parking and a café, we do not want that to happen,” Yaranon added.
The lady councilor who is advocating preserving what is left of heritage, culture and open spaces in the city said her hopes are anchored on the recent bill of Representative Mark Go declaring Burnham Park as a heritage park as well as the declaration of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) not to develop any part of the park.
The councilor said there is another proposal for the development of the Diplomat hotel by LKY for the restoration, redevelopment and improvement of the hotel.
“This is an old proposal. They have to update this and changes have to be made and now have to pass through the guideline set by the National Historical Institute (NHI) since it is a historical site and has to conform to use, since we are eyeing it to be become a creative hub,” she added.
Present during the meeting were councilors Elmer Datuin, Leandro Yangot and Faustino Olowan with P4 chair and city budget officer Letty Clemente, city planning and development officer, Evelyn Cayat, council secretary, Berner Bengwayan, Nazita Banez of the City Buildings and Architecture Office [CBAO], City Engineer Edgar Olpindo, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Jose Tagudar, City Environment and Parks Management Office head, Cordelia Lacsamana.
Yaranon said both proposals are now with the committee and will be deliberated on whether a letter of acceptance will be given after evaluation of its merits, going through the process before it is discussed in the council and elevated to Mayor Mauricio Domogan for approval.
Datuin, in a statement, clarified the project is now pending with the PPP selection committee and evaluation will be made next week.
“The evaluation is just the second step of the process and the proponent will still undergo at least 20 more steps including publication and consultation.
The more important is that whoever is interested to challenge the project will be given the opportunity do so under the PPP ordinance,” Datuin added.
Datuin continued the proposal does not include the Pine Trees of the World but the unused portion at the back of lions club will be used while assuring no trees will be cut as per the proposal.”
SunStar Baguio tried but failed to solicit statements from Olowan and Yangot while councilor Edgar Avila, also a member of P4 did not attend last week’s meeting and declined to comment.