BAGUIO City residents are being asked to help resolve different problems besetting the city instead of reacting to the proposed rehabilitation by the national government.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan pointed out the importance of the community’s contribution in resolving various problems in the city along with the support from the local government unit.
“Let us do what we can instead of letting the issue blow out of proportion. We appeal to all our constituents to do what they can like those residential houses having the appropriate septic tanks, we should resolve this,” Domogan said.
In a national radio interview on December 9, 2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said Baguio will be the next ecotourism zone which will undergo rehabilitation after Boracay, Palawan and Bohol.
Antiporda cited the worsening traffic problems and the geohazard concerns as the reasons why they are now keen on putting the city on the list of areas for rehabilitation.
Aside from Baguio City, the national government will also pursue the rehabilitation of Metro Manila.
“We heard the news that they will be focusing on rehabilitating Manila Bay, but let us all here in Baguio help each other to resolve our existing problem,” Domogan added.
Antiporda, in his interview, added that the government will look into the traffic concerns in the city as tourists flock to the Summer Capital during the holidays.
Antiporda noted that there is no room for expansion of the city’s roads.
“Yan po ay isa rin na kailangan mai-address natin at sad to say, dahil din po sa istruktura ng kaniyang bundok eh hindi natin magawa na ika nga'y magkaroon ng tinatawag ng expansion ng kaniyang mga road network," Antiporda said.
Domogan earlier pointed out Baguio City’s rehabilitation should not be compared to what happened in Boracay.