SECOND SAIP WORTH P849 MILLION UNDER STUDY BY CITY COUNCIL

July 27, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The Baguio City Council is currently reviewing the second Supplemental Annual Investment Program (SAIP) prepared and submitted by the city government’s executive department. The second SAIP consists of proposed programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) for funding, amounting to a total of P849,866,000.00. This includes various infrastructure and community development projects with specified internal and external funding sources.

The proposed PPAs under the second SAIP presented by City Planning Development and Sustainability Officer Donna Tabangin to the city council are as follows: Enclosure of the Kias Barangay Covered Court and construction of additional amenities to serve as an evacuation center for the barangay, costing P9,986,000.00, to be funded through the Local Development Fund (LDF) with realignment from the “Water System Improvement Project; Improvement, upgrading, and rehabilitation of the Baguio Athletic Bowl, budgeted at P120,000,000.00, to be funded by the LDF with realignment from the “Road Development of Session Road” project;

Construction of a multi purpose hall for Barangay Purok 1, Outlook Drive, for evacuation, senior citizen, and youth use, costing P20,000,000.00, to be sourced externally; Multilevel steel parking at Bayan Park, budgeted at P50,000,000.00, to be sourced externally; Multilevel steel parking at Botanical Garden, costing P400,000,000.00, to be sourced externally; Integration of Barangay Lower Rock Quarry’s covered court into a multi-level building, costing P30,000,000.00, to be funded externally; Construction of a multi purpose building at Purok 2, Lucnab Barangay, budgeted at P10,000,000.00, to be sourced externally;

Redevelopment Sunshine Park in Baguio City, amounting to P20,000,000.00, to be funded externally; Baguio City Urban Forest Conservation Project, costing P70,000,000.00, to be sourced externally; Construction of drainage at Lower Lourdes, budgeted at P3,500,000.00, to be funded by the Local Government Support Fund; Slope protection at the satellite market at Leonila Hill, amounting to P1,500,000.00, to be funded by the Local Government Support Fund; Super Health Center at Lucban Health Center, costing P15,000,000.00, to be funded by the Local Government Support Fund; and Construction of rainwater harvesting facilities at Buyog Watershed at Lower Quirino Hill, budgeted at P50,000,000.00, to be sourced externally.

During the city council’s regular session on July 22, 2024, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda questioned the
realignment of the funding from the Water System Improvement Project to the Kias Barangay Covered Court. Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan explained that the project had been disallowed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), preventing the execution of the Water System Improvement Project as initially planned, thus
the realignment. Tabanda also sought clarification on what specific improvements and upgrades would be made to the Baguio Athletic Bowl, noting that there were no detailed documents or plans submitted to the city council.

Present during the city council discussion, City Administrator Bonifacio dela Pena explained that the current oval track is short by 1.8 meters from the standard 400 meters, making it non-compliant with official regulations. Furthermore, the tartan floor, which was designed for a 15 year lifespan, is already deteriorating after only five to
six years, and the underlying foundation was found to be cemented rather than asphalted, which is not suitable
for a tartan surface. Dela Pena said the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had been consulted, and they recommended necessary improvements to address these issues.

The city administrator further explained that the preliminary cost for the required improvements was estimated between P100 million and P120 million. He said the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) is working with
construction experts to refine the cost estimate and develop a detailed plan. Tabanda suggested that the detailed plans and documents for the Athletic Bowl improvement be submitted to the city council to ensure that the legislative body has complete documentation and attachments to support the decision-making process. The city council deferred the approval of the second SAIP pending the submission of the requested documents.

Jordan G. Habbiling/SP