THIS week, we detour from more Baguio people with Greek names to a place named after an American, Burnham Park. In particular, we go to the site of the old Baguio City Auditorium.
There is much hue and cry from many sectors of the Baguio populace, rising up against the City Government's plans to erect on the grounds of the old Auditorium, a multi-level parking space with shops and such, i.e., another mall.
There is a petition making its rounds, saying that the Baguio city-zens oppose the city government's plans. Dr. Rony Paraan and Mita Dimalanta, who each head a civic group of Baguio people, are on the record stating like opposition.
Mita, in particular, speaks of carrying capacity. "We need a park and not another business center. Baguio has reached the limit of its carrying capacity. Please accept reality and look somewhere else, preferably outside Baguio's center for a hotel and mall." She echoes Uncle Jody Alabanza, who even decades ago already warned all and sundry that our dear city had already breached its carrying capacity.
Interesting is the figure presented by Doc Rony: "Only 11.6% of total Baguio residents own cars, so who are we providing for?" I did not realize that only 11.6 percent of the Baguio residents owned cars. To his question of who we are providing for, the man on the street has a ready answer.
"Pera pera lang yan sa munisipyo." The man on the street speaks Tagalog, too. And regales us with tales of payoffs in the "munisipyo." Heavens, I'm thinking.
The opposition to the City Government plan for a parking lot is clear. The public consultations exhibit that opposition clearly. Let me here add that like opposition also comes from this column, by echoing friends who have said it all and said it well. We need a park that benefits the residents, not a parking lot/mall that benefits tourists. We need space and playgrounds for the children and ourselves, not more shops and such and what not.
Let me add, though, that we need to shut this city down like President Duterte shut down Boracay, so we can take full stock of all the problems that actually need attention: garbage, overpopulation, carrying capacity, water, illegal settlers, land use, and such, and take action to address these very real problems.
Before accepting tourists who need to park.