March 29, 2024

The city government is gearing up for the implementation of a program that will capacitate young people to contribute in the enhancement of the city’s urban landscape in order to create safe spaces for themselves and for the rest of the city’s populace.
On March 6, the city council approved the first annual supplemental investment program for 2023 in the amount of P250 million which includes the Safe and Sound Cities Program for Baguio.
This project will localize the Safe and Sound Cities Programme (S2Cities), an initiative led by a Swiss foundation called Global Infrastructure Foundation (GIB).
Baguio City, along with Naga City and Cuenca and Ambato in Ecuador, were selected through a rigorous selection process for the implementation of the S2Cities Programme.
The project proposal for the S2Cities Programme for Baguio was presented by City Planning and Development Coordinator Donna Tabangin to the city council on March 6.
It is a one-year program to be implemented by the city government in partnership with ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability. It is expected to start this month and to end in February 2024.
Tabangin said the S2Cities Programme is committed to creating safer environments with and for young people by addressing urban safety and security issues. 
The program will provide the youth a platform to reflect on their urban safety and security experiences and perceptions and will encourage them to collaborate with other urban actors such as youth organizations, the public and private sector, non-government organizations, and the academe to improve urban infrastructure.
Tabangin added the S2Cities Programme will provide the youth and local government officers capacity building opportunities in terms of decision-making related to urban safety and security.
To realize the vision of S2Cities Programme, the city government will put up a youth safety innovation hub to serve as a space dedicated to nurturing ideas by all urban stakeholders including the youth on how to create safe spaces in the city. 
The innovation will be located temporarily in the basement of the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center and will be transferred to the Youth Convergence Center which is currently under construction after its completion.
Implementation of the S2Cities Programme will cost P17.5 million. Of the amount, P5M will be spent for the setting up of the innovation hub. – Jordan G. Habbiling