CITY, BCBC TO INK MOA TO ADOPT “CAMP PEPPOT” AT BURNHAM ON DEC. 20

December 14, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club is one step closer to administering a portion of the Burnham Park
that it uses for the city recognized Lucky Summer Visitors. The BCBC is expected to sign a memorandum of agreement with the city this Friday, December 20, which City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan
Diwas said as “relative to your interest to adopt a portion of the Picnic Grove at Burnham Park, Baguio City.” “Will have it signed on Friday (December 20),” assistant CEPM Officer Marivic Empizo told BCBC president last Thursday wring a meeting with city parks head Joseph Hermogeno.

Empizo said that she will draft the final MOA which BCBC will peruse before the MOA signing. Picaña expressed elation over the update and will now look forward to funding the upgrade of the area used during the Holy Week for the annual LSV and media camp. “Now we can start working on the possible funding of the camp’s upgrade,” said the Amianan Balita Ngayon editor/publisher. It will be recalled that in a letter dated September 11, Diwas, a lawyer, forwarded the MOA draft to BCBC president Thomas Picaña for his comments and suggestions and returned same to his office on September 17 “for finalization and scheduling of MOA signing.”d/or activities within the area;…”

Once signed, the BCBC will “volunteer” and commit “to support the City improve the lighting system of the parks by participating in the Adopt-A-Park Program at the Picnic Grove,…” Said program “is a concept that gives opportunities for other government and non-government entities to participate in the development activities for city parks, as long as the terms and conditions stipulated in the agreement is strictly followed;…” The soon to be signed MOA will recognize BCBC’s conduct of the annual search and other activities “and shall act as the development partner in improvement and maintenance of the area;…”

But the BCBC will, the MOA stipulated: “Not encumber or alienate any portion of the Park but to ensure the preservation and accessibility to the public.” For its part, the city government shall “exercise solely the rights and powers to review and approve whatever programs and/or projects undertaken by the volunteer (all caps) through the CEPM, prior to its implementation;…” It will also “supervise the execution of all programs, projects and/or activities within the area;…” as well as “ensure the reservation and/or safeguarding of all park facilities thereat;…” The MOA will take effect after its signing and “shall remain valid for one (1) year in accordance with the foregoing terms and conditions.”

Picaña welcomed the draft MOA as he looks forward to implement major works including improvement of said area called by the media as Camp Peppot in memory of the late editor and former councilor who started the Media Camp
in 1988 in front of the former Gold Ore, which he edited, office at the Baguio Colleges Foundation, now the
University of the Cordilleras.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN