Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, Sept. 15, directed the City Environment and Parks Management Office to inform barangay officials they can no longer dip fingers into management of parks in the city.
He likewise directed Cepmo to rid parks of illegal structures.
The mayor earlier told Cepmo to come up with plans to smarten up the city’s top tourist attractions, including the Wright Park and Mines View Park.
During a meeting with city managers at the Baguio Convention Center however, interim Cepmo chief Rhenan G. Diwas bared some officials were apparently at odds with his office on how to manage the parks within their respective barangays.
Presenting Cepmo’s “Wright Park development plan,” Diwas reported village officials prioritize livelihood activities at the parks.
In a separate interview he lamented, “Some parts of Wright Park and Mines View Park, which are supposed to be ‘beyond commerce of man’, were converted into bazaars.”
“Still, some areas are now occupied by illegal structures,” he added.
Diwas explained the problem takes genesis from agreements purportedly entered into by some village leaders with previous administrations.
“While the agreements have already lapsed,” he added, “some officials still insist on them”. – Gaby Keith
April 19, 2024
