March 29, 2024

The City Environment and Parks Management Office is calling on all benefactors of the Adopt-a-Park project of the city to report to the office to signify whether or not they are still interested to continue with the program.
Cepmo Asst. Department Head Rhenan Diwas said that as part of the parks development program in line with the office’s thrust to revitalize the city’s environment, the office will revisit the Adopt-a-Park program for enhancement.
He said an inventory of the existing parks in the city will be conducted including those adopted by various organizations.
As per record of the Cepmo, there are more than 20 public parks, center islands, and greenbelts of which care was entrusted to non-government and civic organizations under the city’s Adopt-a-Park project.
He said some of these organizations have been complying with their obligations but there are those who have been remiss as their adoptive areas now appear to be neglected.
New guidelines will also be issued to improve the program.
“Please visit the office if you intend to renew your memorandum of agreement with us or inform us just the same if you are no longer interested to continue with the program,” he said.
In 2016, then mayor Mauricio Domogan created a Parks Management Authority (PMA) to serve as a policymaking body for all parks and recreation centers in the city.
This is pursuant to Ordinance 18 s. 2016 or the Environment Code of the City of Baguio which provides for the creation of such body.
Administrative Order 183 s. 2016 tasked the city environment and parks management officer to chair the body with the following as members: city council committee on tourism, special events and parks or playgrounds chair; city buildings and architecture officer; city engineer; city administrator; general services officer; Baguio City Museum administrator; and members of the Local Finance Committee, United Architects of the Philippines, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers of the Philippines local chapters and representatives from the University of the Cordilleras, Saint Louis University, and the Association of Barangay Councils.
Apart from being a policy-formulating body, the PMA will be tasked to coordinate the planning and preparation of the overall concept and master plans of all parks and recreation areas in the city and will take charge of identifying areas for partnership with the private sector in line with the city’s Adopt-a-Park program, screen applications of would-be partners and coordinate regular public engagements to enhance awareness of the constituents on the aesthetic and environmental value of city parks. – Aileen P. Refuerzo