BAGUIO CITY – Local chief executives of the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) agreed to work together in order to effectively and efficiently address seven identified common problems that would significantly contribute in making the area a growth development center.
Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan, who was chosen to continue heading the BLISTT Governing Council, said local executives of the city’s neighboring towns in Benguet are now passionate in making the BLISTT development concept achievable for the benefit of improving the economic standing of the localities and improve the living condition of their respective constituents.
He said the identified 7-point common problems of the concerned local governments include the preservation and protection of the environment, putting in place of appropriate solid waste disposal facilities to solve the current garbage concerns, sustainable source of water, traffic and transport management, crafting workable peace and order initiatives, infrastructure development and promotion of tourism destinations in their respective places among others.
“We agreed to closely work together in addressing our identified common problems and it is a good start for the strengthening of our relationship as one growth center as envisioned by European planners and the Cordillera Regional Development Council” Domogan stressed.
He claimed La Trinidad Mayor Edna C. Tabanda, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan, Sablan Mayor Arthur Baldo, Tuba Mayor Florencio Bentres and Tublay Mayor Ruben Paoad agreed to come out with a BLISTT tourism brochure that will contain all the potential tourism destinations in the area in order to have a one-time promotion for the BLISTT as a preferred tourism destination north of Manila.
Tuba is known for its therapeutic hot springs, the famous La Presa organic farms that hosted the television show Forever More, the scenic caves and various resorts apart from the mine sites while Itogon is known for its newly discovered swimming pools, sulphur bath and small-scale mining areas. Sablan is known for its scenic waterfalls, banana and pineapple plantations while Tublay is known for its organic farms and various cave destinations apart from being the gateway to the northern part of Benguet. La Trinidad is known for its strawberry and flower gardens aside from being the capital town and the seat of governance in Benguet.
“We agreed to work beyond our political boundaries in order to make the BLISTT a major investment haven and tourism destination in order to contribute in the growth and development of the whole Baguio and Benguet areas,” he said.
Domogan explained the fear and misconception among local residents and officials of the neghboring towns that the BLISTT would only address the problems of Baguio city has been totally erased to a point that local officials believe that the BLISTT will be beneficial to the overall growth and development of all concerned localities considering that the neighboring Benguet towns will be home to the overflow of development in the city.
He cited the present batch of local officials have an open mind about the true essence of the BLISTT concept that is why it would now be smooth sailing for the implementation of various development projects that are envisioned to boost the overall growth of the concerned localities comprising the growth center. By Dexter A. See
