How secure is Burnham Park?

July 14, 2018 Opinion Tinig ng Bayan

Burnham Park is considered as one of the most famous parks in the country that tourists visit.
It is supposed to be a quiet and peaceful environment wherein you can relax and feel the cold breeze of the wind in your skin, but what happened now?
There are some incidents encountered in the park like the swimming incident at the fountain in some portion of the Rose Garden, the 16-year-old who died while undergoing medical treatment in the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) after allegedly jumping into the lake for unknown reason, and an 8 year-old boy found dead last Thursday (July 5) in the old library parking area of Burnham Park.
Because of these incidents, there is a need to review and seek some adjustments in the city’s existing policies concerning the operation and maintenance of parks to prevent the occurrence of incidents that resulted to the loss of lives.
The duty of the local government is to maintain peace and order as well as the safety of its constituents in all public places, including parks and recreational areas.
All the owners and operators of the boats also should undergo trainings to be able to act accordingly in cases of emergency.
According to US Pres. Ronald Reagan, “We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advancement of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace”.
Let our visitors feel that our park is secured so that they have the freedom to explore and enjoy everything they want to do and help each other to make this world a better place to live in. JEZZA MAEH NAGAYOS, UC Intern