March 29, 2024

The city government will make its environmental summit a series to cater to all sectors that have a stake on the issues.

The first in the series will be held on July 8, 1 to 5 p.m. at the Baguio Convention Center where the city through the Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (OCPDC) and the City Environment and Parks Management Office plans to accommodate a large audience of at least 500 to ensure the success of the activity.

The activity will be open to the public who may attend physically or virtually via Zoom or livestreaming at the Public Information Facebook where they can put forward their questions, concerns, or suggestions.

The OCPDC said they plan to hold two more sessions, the schedule of which will be announced upon finalization.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong last May 17 directed the summit to gather inputs on to address the critical issues affecting the city’s environment to further guide the city government in its mission to prevent the city from further hurtling towards urban decay.

He asked that participants come from the cross section of the Baguio City community to make for a fruitful summit. 

The mayor said he intends to focus on implementing the strategic solutions planned during his first term to address problems besetting the city including the deterioration of the environment resulting to ecological imbalance.

A 2019 study of the National Economic and Development Authority found the city had already breached its carrying capacity or “the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.”

The mayor said it is crucial that the city implement reforms to slow down if not reverse urban decay.  – Aileen P. Refuerzo