City mayor Reinaldo Bautista said in his State of the City Address last Monday that a resilient economy, high employment rate, high literacy rate, and responsive local government are among the major gains the city has achieved since 2007. 

Bautista, who delivered his SOCA before the public at the city council session hall, said that the major accomplishments were achieved even in wake of the economic crunch being experienced and there was no increase in taxes paid by the public amid mammoth concerns like the solid waste management problem. 

He said that Baguio has been resilient as ever when its economy bounced back from the health crisis in 2005 from an executive budget of P620 million in 2006 to P1 billion this year.

Bautista said that even the Commission on Audit labeled the city to be one of the highly urbanized cities with a vibrant economy even as he claimed that Baguio is ranked 11th in the list of local government units nationwide with a strong economy.

One of the factors that contributed to the city’s vibrant economy is the close to 15,000 business permits processed during his administration, which is equivalent to more than a billion pesos revenue.

“(We have) a government that has been given a world standard rating in credit of triple A (a credit that allows easy loans from banks), a government that is zero in obligations, a position we never had since 1984,” Bautista said, adding that Baguio is not so dependent on its Internal Revenue Allotment share.

The mayor also attributed the vibrancy of the city economy to the recent passage by the city council of the Baguio Investments and Incentives Code.  

He also mentioned the slight increase in employment rate from 94.6 percent in 2007 to 95.2 percent in 2008, an indication that migrants are actually helpful to the economy even as the city provides livelihood opportunities to the youth during summer. 

Aside from posting a 98-percent literacy rate, Baguio, which is known as the education center north of Manila, is also home to board topnotchers. This, even as the mayor claimed that the education community is bringing in a P2 B income annually.
He added that from the 80,000 college students enrolled every year, there are 25,000 to 30,000 graduating yearly. 

Bautista said the city government has been responsive to the needs of all sectors ranging from the urban poor, persons with disabilities, women and children, and the youth. He said that Baguio is one of the only seven LGUs  nationwide with a Gender Equality and Development Code. 

The city government was also able to include 3,500 indigent families to the national social government subsidy program. 

Bautista also said that the city government did not initiate an increase in taxes even as it spent a huge amount in compliance to the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act. He said that at least 15 material recovery facilities were constructed while the city purchased dump trucks and set aside money for land banking. 

He expressed hope that the 10-year city comprehensive waste management plan will help solve the solid waste problem in Baguio. 

“Allow us to state that as of today, despite the costs, this government and this administration did not burden the people with any increase in taxes that would and might be assumed by the people,” Bautista said. 

He turned the table against his supposed critics by challenging them to complain with a firm stand but at the same time offer something for the solution of a problem.

The mayor repeated several times that the gains of his administration were achieved courtesy of the support and unity shown by members of the city council, department heads, and the community.