BAGUIO CITY – The City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) reported that 60 percent of building owners in the central business district complied with the directive of the city government to clean and repaint their buildings as part of the city’s beautification campaign to entice more tourists to visit the city.
Arch. Johnny Degay, officer-in-charge of CBAO, also added that pursuant to Resolution No. 248, series of 1996, which urged all owners of business establishments in the central business district to paint their respective buildings, 66.43 percent or 10 of 14 barangays within the city proper have complied .
The resolution was primarily intended to require building owners to promote and maintain the aesthetic beauty of the city in time for the holiday season.
Among the 14 barangays that were required to have their structures painted to maintain the city’s aesthetic beauty include Andres Bonifacio-Caguioa-Rimando (ABCR), Abanao-Zandueta-Chugum-Kayang-Otek (AZCKO), Bagong Lipunan, Harrison-Carantes, Kagitingan, Kayang, Burnham-Legarda- Lower Gen. Luna, Malcolm Square, New Lucban, Rizal Monument, Session road-Gov. Pack road, Teodora Alonzo and Upper Magsaysay.
He claimed the cleaning and re-painting of structures within the city’s central business district is aligned with one of the 15-point collective agenda of the present administration on responsible tourism considering that the city is one of the premier tourist destinations in the country.
Degay called on owners of structures in the central business district area which have yet to repaint their buildings to do so at the soonest possible time as the peak tourism months in the city is just around the corner and that the city government wants to promote a new image of Baguio during the Yuletide season.
While it is true the resolution does not provide penalties for building owners who will not comply with the painting of their structures, the assistant department head claimed it is best for everyone to cooperate with such a program in the best interest of the city to maintain its identity as one of the premier tourist destinations in the country.
He assured concerned stakeholders in the city the city government will continue to monitor the compliance of building owners in cleaning and repainting their structures situated in the central business district area to help project the city as a premier tourist destination in the country.
Aside from the cleaning and repainting of their structures, building owners are also mandated by the resolution to install the appropriate signages in their establishments for easy location by those interested to do business and improving the state of their structures will definitely add up to the attractions in the city.
Degay said activities in the city are expected to significantly increase by next month with numerous organizations wanting to conduct their annual gatherings in the city because of its cool weather.
By Dexter A. See
