There was a time that Baguio is among the awarded “cleanest and greenest” city but now it is already a part of history. What happened?
Originally built for 25,000 people, Baguio is now hosting over half a million people at day time, and more during weekends and holidays, when tourists, local and foreign alike comes up to Baguio.
Thus, one major issue now here in the summer capital is the concern on garbage or waste management and disposal. What is the real cause of this problem? Is it the government? Is it the people? Is it me? Is it you?
Here comes the blaming game, where every person/sector always has someone to blame, when it comes to the garbage problem. I think the problem is that no one is really taking the responsibility to admit that somehow and somewhere, the city needed changed, more than the blaming game.
Panagbenga 2017 (Baguio’s Flower Festival) is slowly heating – up with the main attraction – the Grand Street Dancing and Float parade set this February 25 and 26, respectively.
Thus, the issue on garbage will have a media mileage again, wherein some will blame the tourists and others will blame the government. But are they only the ones to be blamed?
All of us have our fair share for any issue or concern that the City of Baguio is facing but we tend to find flaws in other people/sector but are we doing our responsibility.
I think that the City of Baguio can still be considered as one of the Cleanest and Greenest country in the Philippines again as long as we all help. Hand in hand we can do it.
I hope that tourists will also do their fair share. I know that when people visit their homes or community, they also do not want their visitors to litter or leave waste or garbage everywhere.
It sounds like a cliché, but this is the reality that the city faces. Not only of our generation, but also the future generation people will continue to come, whether to migrate, to work or as tourists.
Let us stop the blaming game and again let us all work together to address such concern, even in our own little ways, as all of us will also benefit from a simple change of mindset.
By: Jeane Therese Dar
