LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Municipal officials recently requested the Baguio City government to accord the residents of the municipality and the province the same privileges accorded to the city residents in the implementation of the amended provision of the city’s Environment Code on the collection of environmental fees at the Botanical Garden and other similarly situated parks in the city.
Under Resolution No. 45, series of 2023, the municipal council stated that the consideration of the residents of the municipality and the province to be accorded the same privileges accorded to city residents is an illustrious gesture that indeed both residents are not only friends but also families in the spirit of the concept of the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) growth area.
The body claimed that since time in memorial and prior to the Spaniards’ declaration of the La Trinidad and Baguio City as among the rancheria or township under the Distrito de Benguet, indigenous peoples of these areas had a strong socio-cultural relations with each other ranging from cooperation, friendship and other support initiatives.
According to the council, La Trinidad and Baguio City, though distinct as two communities, have a history of strong relationship, reciprocation, attachment, and cooperation through commerce as the former produces agricultural products and the latter as its marketing and commercial center.
Further, the council noted that residents of both areas are actually related to each other, hence, it is best to consider them as relatives.
Earlier, the Baguio City government, through the local legislative body, amended a portion of its Environment Code embodied under Ordinance No. 18, series of 2016, especially on the collection of environmental fees at the Botanical Garden and other parks in the city where visitors at the newly renovated garden were classified as either tourists or residents of the city, the latter having the prescribed discount privilege over the other.
Under the city’s revised Environment Code, tourists are being charged P100 as entrance or environmental fee while city residents are being charged P50 for adults and P25 for children aged 13 and above while those below 13 years old are free to enter the said park.
The council underscored that in the spirit of being within the BLISTT and the residents of both communities being relatives pursuant to the close family ties embraced by Filipinos, it is but proper for the Baguio City government to afford the same privileges granted to city residents to those from La Trinidad and the different parts of Benguet if the people are really friends and relatives.
Last year, Republic Act (RA) 11932 which created the Metro Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay Developed Authority (MBLISTTDA) lapsed into law that led to the creation of the said superbody although it was not actually provided with the needed budget to operate considering the implementation of austerity measures on the part of the government following the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia doctrine where portions of the government’s revenue will be shared by the different local government units.
