LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Tourists and residents in Baguio City and neighboring towns in the Cordillera Administrative Region are asked to manage their garbage properly specially during the holidays.
Ralph Pablo, regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera (DENR –CAR), appealed to the public to properly throw their solid waste into garbage bins when visiting the city for the holiday season.
"Pagka ganitong holiday season specially Baguio City, they want to spend Christmas to feel the breeze and the coldness of the city, their visit mean well but they must be really responsible to manage their own waste. I am appealing to the visiting public that they will follow the ordinances of the city as regards to the proper management of our respective solid waste," Pablo said.
"The very essence of Christmas is to do good, to have peaceful activity that includes everything protecting the environment and protecting oneself,” he added.
Rather than buying plastic, visitors are urged to use ecobags for their pasalubong or souvenir items.
Motorists are also encouraged to use public transport and leave their vehicles in the hotels or transient houses where they are staying.
"One option if they will bring their vehicles in the city, park it in their respective hotels and walk. They won't pollute the city (through the emission produce by vehicles), they should walk and enjoy the breeze of the city," the DENR official said.
Records at the City Tourism and Special Events Office show that Christmas is the city's peak season for tourists, and not Panagbenga nor Holy Week.