BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance designating the portion of Burnham Park between the children’s playground and the city orchidarium as the site for the Mateo Cariño monument and as an Ibaloi heritage garden.
The ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog converted Resolution 182, series of 2010 into an ordinance to allow the local government, concerned government agencies and the Ibaloi tribe to introduce developments at the Ibaloi heritage garden and providing for other purposes.
The ordinance stated there is a need to convert the aforesaid resolution into an ordinance to allow the local government, concerned government agencies and the members of the Ibaloi tribe to develo the area and sustain its status as a heritage garden encompassing the rich culture and traditions of the tribe for the benefit of the present and future generations of the tribe.
Under the ordinance, the City Engineer’s Office, in coordination with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), will install the appropriate signs to identify the said area as the Ibaloi heritage garden after the passage of the ordinance.
Earlier, the City Council passed Resolution No. 182, series of 2010 designating the portion of Burnham Park between the children’s playground and the city orchidarium as the site for the Mateo Cariño monument and as an Ibaloi heritage garden.
For the past several years, the said area had been used by the members of the Ibaloi tribe as a venue for their various culture-related activities passing on their rich culture and traditions to the present generation.
The Ibaoil heritage garden is situated within the 34-hectare Burnham Park that was turned over by the national government to the local government, particularly for its maintenance, administration, and operation.
The proposed ordinance was referred by the local legislative body to the Committee on Education, Culture and Historical Research for further study and recommendation to ensure that its enactment will not run counter to the provisions of Executive Order No. 224, series of 1995 issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos and subsequently modified by Executive Order No. 69, series of 2009 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to strengthen the city’s administration, management and operation functions over the Burnham park.
Concerned offices of the local government, a number of regional government agencies and the members of the Ibaloi tribe plan to introduce the appropriate improvements in the heritage garden to help in the efforts among the council of elders to inform and educate today’s youth on the rich culture and traditions of the tribe.
The Ibaloi tribe are the first inhabitants of the city even before its conversion as a suitable rest and recreation area by the Americans and that most parts of the city served as a grazing area for their animals.
The proposed ordinance, once enacted, will be implemented pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local government code of 1991.
By Dexter A. See