BENGUET Governor Crescencio Pacalso is optimistic that the proposed Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA) bill will be passed, but he doubts whether the province will benefit from it.
“Once it will be approved with funding, it would probably help. However we need to see if it is for the development of BLISTT and not for the development of Baguio,” said the governor.
BLISTT was established without a governing body after the 1990 killer earthquake.
Pacalso, who was then mayor of Itogon, said there was a proposal for the creation of a Metro Baguio but this was opposed by the different nearby municipalities.
“This BLISTT has to be discussed in what direction how it will help Baguio City the surrounding municipality,” Pacalso said, citing Baguio’s problem on garbage and water supply.
Former La Trinidad mayor Edna Tabanda, in the previous BLISTTDA Senate panel hearing, raised the need for a consultation as there are some provisions of the bill that need to be clarified specifically its effect on the local government units.
A hearing on the proposed Senate Bill 1692 is scheduled in the city on Friday, January 4, with Senator Richard Gordon.
Under the proposed bill, BLISTTDA will exercise management, regulatory and supervisory authority and shall include services of development planning, urban renewal, land use planning and housing and shelter formulation, transport and traffic management, solid waste disposal and management, flood control and sewerage management, water resource system, health and sanitation, pollution control and public safety and order.
Baguio City Congressman Mark Go expressed the BLISTTDA as a bigger perspective in terms of the development of the city and the BLISTT area and at the same the goal to have an integrated development.
“We cannot be anymore developing the city without considering the different municipalities of Benguet that is adjacent to Baguio. We will try to decongest itong city natin,” Go said.
He was bullish about the bill’s approval before the 17th Congress ends.