It’s Already Being Done

January 13, 2020 Sideglance

Much as we would like to appreciate the effort of several cabinet secretaries coming up to Baguio ostensibly to formalize the ‘rehabilitation’ of the city it is simply a waste of time, resources and personnel on their part considering that rehabilitation done by the city government has already begun.

You don’t have to take my word for it but if you entertain doubts about it then find the time to visit city hall and ask around on measures being undertaken by the present administration of Hon. Benjamin Magalong on how to protect, preserve and re-vitalize the environment, on how continuous and unrelenting effort is being expended to discover a viable solution to the traffic problem, or on how steps are being taken to finally address the long standing concern about the sewerage system that has time and again befuddled previous administrations.

Everything is already being done or in the process of being undertaken in line with the 15 point core agenda of the city as advocated by the City Mayor.

Those who continue to be confused as to what kind of rehabilitation is supposed to be implemented by the national government in the city let the result of the visit by several cabinet officials speak for itself. After their formal meeting at the Mansion House last Friday it was announced by the Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat that her office will infuse 480 million pesos for the rehabilitation of Burnham Park, and perhaps other city parks as well.

But if you have been monitoring the previous announcements made by Mayor Magalong, either thru the media or during formal programs and activities, he already bared the financial assistance from the DOT and the TIEZA to improve the premier park of the city.

Therefore the announcement made by DOT Secretary Puyat is already stale news. On the aspect of closing to visitors certain tourist sites and parks, or portions thereof, supposedly to implement the rehabilitation, we have yet to see an area in the city undergoing repair and improvement that is open to the public.

When Baguio Convention Center underwent repairs and rehabilitation it was totally closed to the public. In fact until now the famous conference venue is still closed to the public. Logic will tell you that when the city will start the comprehensive rehabilitation and improvement of the Burnham Park as well as the City Public Market it will definitely have to be closed to the public to avoid putting at risk the life and health of the people.

We don’t need the pronouncements from the national government about the way the city will have to be rehabilitated fundamentally because the city government has already begun the process of doing it.

The only interesting thing that happened when these cabinet officials visited the city is to simply formalize and reiterate what Mayor Magalong has already been saying and planning all along when he stepped into office, and so that in the back of their minds they can at least claim some sort of credit for what will be done to the city.

Of course these cabinet officials can always come up to the city and announce to the public that they will continue giving financial assistance to the tune of millions of pesos for the supposed ‘rehabilitation’. If that is the tenor of their visit we will always welcome them with open arms.