The dry (or summer) season is upon our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts, smiling carabaos, and greedy political dynasties. This near-sighted Ibaloy writer read a recent news article on the suspension of face-to-face classes and shift to alternative learning mode in numerous public schools in several provinces due to the heat index that have reached the “danger” category.
No schools in Benguet and Baguio City are affected since both areas are truly blessed to have temperate climate with heat indexes that are usually lower by around eight to 10 degrees than most places in our tropical country.
This is the advantage of being situated an estimated 5,000 feet above sea level. Residents of Baguio and Benguet enjoy an almost year-round “free aircon”. How lucky we are, indeed.
This being the case, every Filipino seems to want to live with us in the mountains, especially in Baguio, the country’s undisputed Summer Capital. Who can blame them? Besides, as citizens, we have the right to legally live, study, and work wherever we want to in the Philippines. Again, I said “legally”.
However, Baguio is such a tiny place in terms of land area as compared to other cities. Correct me if I’m wrong but at present, it is currently overpopulated and congested with vehicles and people including informal settlers.
Traffic jams, lack of parking spaces, garbage, squatting and more have become perennial problems in the original home of my Ibaloy ancestors. To be fair, city officials are doing their best to find solutions to these problems. They deserve our support and cooperation in overcoming these challenges. If we cannot offer a solution, we should not be part of the problem. Just saying.
Anyway, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) chaired by Mayor Benjamin Magalong held its 1st Quarter Full Council Meeting, March 25, that tackled its reconstitution and reorganization of sub-committees.
The meeting was presided by CDRRM Office head Engr. Charles Carame and joined by members of the city’s Climate Change Council, including Councilor Peter Fianza and Department of the Interior and Local Government Baguio Office chief Millicent Carino.
The CDRRMC aims to pro-actively minimize the impact of disaster or calamities in the city particularly in terms of destruction of property and threat to lives and the environment.
The DRRM plan covers several thematic areas including disaster prevention and mitigation; disaster preparedness; disaster response; disaster rehabilitation and recovery; and climate change adaptation.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
April 30, 2024
