BAGUIO CITY – Mauricio G. Domogan disclosed the local government does not have the authority to convey portions of Burnham Park to any group or organization because it remains to be the property of the national government.
The local chief executive said there should always be close coordination between groups and organizations interested to use portions of Burnham Park and the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) which is the department in charge of managing the affairs of the park to prevent the occurrence of conflicts that will create misunderstanding between the involved parties.
“The local government does not have the blanket authority to convey portions of Burnham Park to a certain group because it is only In charge of the administration, maintenance and operation of the park. It remains a property of the national government that is why the city could not just cede a portion of the park to a certain group,” Domogan stressed.
In the case of the Onjon in Ivadoy, he explained the resolution passed by the local legislative body was naming a portion of Burnham Park as Ibaloi Heritage Garden in recognition of Ibaloi hero Mateo Cariño and the Ibalois as the first inhabitants of the city.
According to him, the resolution did not convey or cede the portion of Burnham Park to the Onjon ni Ivadoy because the local government does not have the authority to do so as it does not own the 34-hectare property.
Executive Order No. 224, series of 1995 issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos turned over the administration, management and operation of Burnham Park to the local government and it was strengthened by Executive Order No. 69, series of 2009 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
According to him, it is best for everyone to closely coordinate with the concerned office of the local government to avoid the occurrence of conflicts relative to the use of the park for the various activities that will be lined up in the different portions considering that there are reports reaching him that there are often misunderstandings that arise among the various groups interested to use portions of the park.
The 34-hectare Burnham Park plays host to the Rose Garden, Melvin Jones football field, Baguio orchidarium, biking area, skating rink, Burnham Lake, old city library, picnic groove, Childrens Park and the Baguio Athletic Bowl.
Before the administration, management and operation of the park was turned over to the city, Burnham Park was managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) now known as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) under the tourism department.
Domogan claimed proper coordination with the concerned offices of the city will contribute in settling whatever misunderstandings that will arise relative to the use of the portions of the park for whatever purposes desired by the groups wanting to hold their activities in their chosen portions of the park.
He explained the local government is heavily subsidizing the operation of the park after the national government decided to cut off its funding support to help the city administer the affairs of the government property.
By Dexter A. See