The local government will be studying the best use for the Bontoc-Ifugao-Benguet-Apayao-Kalinga (BIBAK) property along Harrison Road that will support the city’s quest for development within portions of Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. 1 covering areas along Gov. Pack Road, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), Session road, Diego Silang and Burnham Park.
City Planning Officer Arch. Dona R. Tabangin stated that apart from an economic enterprise, the city is also considering the various proposals on how to proceed with the proposed development of the prime property that will help in the pursuit of the local government’s recovery and resiliency plan following the heavy impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to the global economy.
Earlier, the city was able to get the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the implementation of several high impact development projects in the property that will boost the economic activities within the area and allow the same to be one of the city’s major economic hub in the future.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the city and the DENR is currently being finalized in preparation for its signing by the representatives of both parties before the end of the month.
Further, Tabangin disclosed that the BSP is also interested to enter into a MOA with the city for the implementation of certain developments within the area occupied by the group so that the same will be aligned with the development plan that had been prepared for the said place.
The city planning officer claimed that the DENR also expanded the area that will be covered by the agreement where the area that will link Gov. Pack road to Diego Silang St. will be covered by the area that is being proposed by the city to be developed so that there will be an access from the main thoroughfare going to the Harrison Road area without encountering traffic in the said roads.
According to her, the local government will entertain proposals from the concerned sectors on how to pursue the best use in terms of development that will be undertaken in the area to maximize its potentials to generate additional resources for the city.
Tabangin stated that city officials are grateful to the DENR under the leadership of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for allowing the development of the property that will be aligned with the city’s development thrusts that will allow the concerned heavily impacted sectors to recover from the effects of the pandemic in terms of job creation and sustained economic activities.
The BIBAK property previously served as the site of the BIBAK dorm where thousands of students from the different parts of the Cordillera were able to stay while pursuing their studies in various higher education institutions in the city and that most of the said students are now professionals working overseas and locally that is why the area has a sentimental value for them as it served as their temporary shelter for several years until they were able to complete their studies.
