BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan vehemently condemned the burning of the donated art installation by local artists at the top of Session Road, saying that such act of still unidentified individuals could be considered as sabotage.
The local chief executive said the final report of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the Baguio Fire Department on the said incident is being awaited to serve as the basis in taking the appropriate actions against those who burned the donated art installation.
“We do not tolerate such acts that seem to try to put the city in a bad light amidst our efforts to install the needed decorations for us to enjoy the celebration of the Yuletide season. We will go after those who committed the crime and we will make them answer for their illegal actions,” Domogan stressed.
Based on the estimate of the damages to the art work, the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) reported that the total worth of damages to the said installation was pegged at around P130,000 to include the payment for those who worked on the put up of the art work in the area.
“We cannot really please everyone because what is beautiful to an individual might not be beautiful to another. We have to give due credit to those who conceptualized and worked for the put up of the art work because of the time, effort and resources that were used for the project,” he added.
While there were negative comments on the art installation and the decorations of the local government for the Yuletide season, Domogan extended his gratitude to the management of GMA 7 for appreciating the city’s decorations around the central business district in time for the Yuletide season and for featuring the matter in their pogroms, saying that he saved in his mobile phone the text message from the television network personalities that appreciated such decorations.
According to him, it is unfortunate that there are individuals who are happy to inflicting damage to public properties, which is why investigators are now tasked to establish their identities so they can be imposed the necessary penalties as a consequence of their illegal acts.
He called on possible witnesses to help investigators ascertain the identities of the suspects who perpetrated the incident so their arrest could be immediately effected by the police.
He claimed that the local government is trying its best to provide the needed decorations for the city annually and the inputs of the public will be welcomed, which is why it is important to value the decorations put in place instead of vandalizing or burning the same because it is taxpayers’ money used for the said decorations around the city.
The local government installed the decorations around the central business district area and the Rose Garden where its lighted Christmas tree is located.
Part of the funds earmarked for the Christmas in Baguio celebration annually is for the installation of Christmas lights and decorations around the city in time for the Yuletide season.
By Dexter A. See
