The adopted park within the Botanical Garden will continue to be tended as the City Government of Baguio renewed its partnership with the adopted park’s custodian.
On Feb. 13, the Baguio City Council approved a resolution granting Mayor Benjamin Magalong authority to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) for the continued maintenance of the PMSEA Garden in Botanical Garden.
PMSEA is a volunteer organization of mining companies in the country which advocates for occupational health and safety, sound environmental management, and social development.
According to City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas, the organization has adopted the area since 2012 and has been assigning their own gardeners to maintain its plants and landscapes.
The MOA that was forged under the previous administration has already lapsed but both parties have agreed to continue their partnership for the upkeep of the garden, thus the need for a new MOA.
The partnership between the city government and PMSEA is under the city’s adopt-a-park program institutionalized through Ordinance 49, s. 2011.
The ordinance is anchored on Resolution 69, s. 1993, which declared it a policy to “safeguard, conserve, and develop the parks and gardens in the city as part of its cleanliness and beautification program.”
Staying true to this commitment, the city government has called on the civic-minded organizations to directly be involved in safeguarding, developing, and maintaining the parks and gardens in the city. This public-private partnership has proven to be very effective, according to the adopt-a-park ordinance solely authored by the late former Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas.
The adopt-a-park program is a city-wide initiative that allows volunteers to take part in helping maintain and care for trees, plants, and flowers in parks.
So far, there are 14 organizations and companies participating in the city’s adopt-a-park program. These are SM Baguio City, TSS Corporation-Harrison, Lafayette Luxury Suites, Young Men’s Christian Association, Scouts Royale Brotherhood, Inc., Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative, Inc., Mines View Men’s and Women’s Organization, PMSEA, Baguio Apaches, Baguio Californians, Inc., Vaughan, Canada-Filipino Community, Baguio Chinese Community, Baguio-Japanese Residents Society, Inc., and Baguio Korea Residents.
Groups interested to adopt a park may coordinate with the City Environment and Parks Management Office at 442-8907. – Jordan G. Habbiling
April 26, 2024
