BAGUIO City Councilor Elaine Sembrano is pushing for a legislative measure which seeks to name the “Pinus Kesiya” or Baguio Pine as the “One Town, One Product” (Otop) of the City of Baguio, providing for its protection, propagation and promotion and for other purposes. “Pinus Kesiya” commonly known as Benguet or Baguio Pine, is one of the widely distributed pines in Asia.
It is found in the Northeast Indian state of Meghalaya, Northern Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Southernmost China and Vietnam. In the Philippines, it is commonly found in the Cordilleras. The common name “Benguet or Baguio Pine” is due to the fact that it is the dominant pine tree variety in the province’s tropical pine forest.
The City of Baguio, found in the province of Benguet, is also nicknamed “City of Pines”, as it is noted for large stands of this tree. Councilor Sembrano, who is the chairperson of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology and Environmental Protection and author of the said proposal wants the said measure to be known as the “Baguio Pine Tree Ordinance”.
The lady lawmaker stated that the Environment Code provides for the protection and conservation of “Pinus Kesiya” considering its importance to the ecology, tourism and economy of the city. Thus, the promotion of the said tree as the OTOP of the city shall be of primordial importance and consideration in all levels of policy formulation, programs, projects and activities of the city government.
The city shall likewise support livelihood activities for the propagation, protection and promotion of the Baguio Pine including handicrafts and artworks for souvenirs or tokens using Baguio Pine needles, twigs or cones gathered from pine tree needle/cone droppings, pruning or tree cuts in accordance with Book VI of the Environment Code.