Defacing Burnham Park

perdition if they are followed. What is needed is expertise from a neutral party with no vested interests and the willingness of the city to implement what is right and necessary. This thrust should rule out vested interests, venality and inefficiency.

This expertise is not available in the city council or the local government as it would probably not be available in any local government in the country or anywhere with the problems that are present in Baguio. So, why does not the local government actively search for consultants that can show them the way to solve these complicated problems? There are many local experts around with track records to match. Why is the local government on a DIY (do-it-yourself) path which is so self- serving, so obviously mistaken and so destructive of the environment?

Among the environmental issues regarding the Burnham Park site for parking buildings is that it is over an aquiferwhich is vital to the water supply of Baguio. Due to the inability of the government to deliver water to the city, many water suppliers have undertaken the task of water delivery and they get the water from the Burnham Park aquifer. Digging into it would be a perilous endeavor because it would disturb the aquifer. This fact has been communicated to the local government but they give it short shrift, which only shows how mindless it is when it comes to addressing issues, solving problems, or conserving the environment for future generations.

So, now Baguio City organizations like The Baguio We Want, the Baguio Heritage Foundation, Pinecone Movement, plus educational institutions like UP Baguio are taking a stand to stop the harebrained idea of putting up two parking buildings on Burnham Park.

Will the local government led the city council listen?