City sources out P1 billion for priority projects

September 5, 2020 Metro BLISTT

More than P1 billion worth of projects had been sourced out by the local government from the different government agencies to help in achieving the overall goal of making a better Baguio in the future.
In his first State of the City Address (SOCA) delivered during the 111th Baguio Charter Day anniversary program at the Baguio Convention Center (BCC) Tuesday, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said that the Smart City command center with a funding of P200 million from the Office of the President will soon be implemented as the bidding process had just been completed and CISCO reportedly won the bid for the project.
He pointed out that the city will be exploiting the power and speed of information technology so that the local government can plan and manage the city’s assets and resources and deliver city services to the people efficiently. The local chief executive claimed that the city is also working on a P50 million grant from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) where together with the Smart City system will be the expansion of the fiber optic infrastructure.
The mayor stated that P100 million will be given to the city through the national government for the installation of a Citywide Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system while P323 million through the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) will be allotted for the city’s cultural arts and heritage center.
Further, another P50 million has been pledged for the development of a new barangay hall and evacuation facility in Irisan and that the city is aiming to secure some P250 million for the improvement of other barangay halls and evacuation centers around the city.
According to him, the city is also working on the plans for the building of some 11 satellite markets to bring fresh produce nearest to the communities. Magalong stated that the arboretum and the Botanical Garden’s upgrade are now on their first and second phases with a total allocation of some P36 million that will serve as an added attraction for tourists.
He disclosed that the planning and eventual implementation of the first socialized housing and resettlement program of the city is already underway where a site had been identified in Irisan and the architectural and engineering plans are now being readied.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development reportedly allocated some P56 million for site development and the National Housing Authority (NHA) will be providing the city some P50 million for building construction.
He said that the selection of the first tranche of housing beneficiaries is currently being undertaken by the concerned offices of the local government.
The city mayor admitted that the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic may have set back some of the city’s initiatives but it also has revealed how people can consolidate ideas and efforts. Moreover, an integrated mobility plan that will provide a connected network of roads, sidewalks, biodiversity corridors, parking, public transportation, biking and pedestrian spaces in the city is being put together.
DASee