BAGUIO CITY – The City Planning and Development office reported the administration of Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong achieved quick gains in terms of the implementation of its 15-point collective agenda en route to a better Baguio.
City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Evelyn G. Cayat claims that on speeding up government action, the local government further simplified the processing of business permit application through the present, pay and print method, thus shortening the processing of building permits from simple which takes 5 days, complex for 20 days to the highly technical which will take 30 days.
On revitalizing the environment, she stated that the two environmental recycling system (ERS) at the closed Irisan dumpsite underwent repair works and is now producing quality compost which will be sold to a potential market, aside from the allocation of P18 million for the conversion of the closed dumpsite into an eco-park which is expected to be completed by the 4th quarter next year and the designation of every 4th Saturday of every month as citywide cleanup.
Cayat added that on innovating the peace and order situation, an integrated command center to effectively manage peace and order, traffic and disaster risk reduction is now on the works aside from the strengthened anti-drug campaign and the potential put up of a Bahay Pag-asa and a drug rehabilitation center.
On aggressive traffic management, she claimed the city government embarked on the aggressive recovery of sidewalks, apart from intensifying the towing of illegally parked vehicles and the possible pedestrianization of Session road, and the possible establishment of transport terminals outside the central business district.
Aside from the social services and infrastructure support programs for education, the local government set aside a special education fund for the education department and the proposed modernization of the city library and library services to cater to the growing needs of students.
The department head stipulated the local government is working out the funding for the youth convergence program while finalizing the location, apart from the institutionalization of the youth programs in the city.
According to her, the Slaughterhouse corals is being proposed to be upgraded apart from increasing the programs, projects and activities for the marginalized sectors under the various offices.
On the other hand, both the Burnham Park and market master plans are now in progress while continuous development and promotion of tourism events and parks development will be enhanced.
The city government continues to partner with different groups inside and outside the city to ensure the funding for the purchase of state-of-the-art emergency vehicles and the put up of the needed evacuation center for effective disaster management.
Moreover, the city government will also embark on an extensive house numbering in the city’s 128 barangays, the segregation of the remaining 13 barangays from the John Hay reservation and the possible merging of the city’s barangays to allow greater opportunities for development in the different parts of the city.
By Dexter A. See
