DOT assessment of Baguio's current state welcomed
BAGUIO City officials have welcomed the plan of the Department of Tourism to look into the environmental state of the city as possibly the next tourist spot for rehabilitation after Boracay Island. But they are confident Baguio will not suffer the same fate as Boracay, which is up for a six-month closure from tourists.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan reiterated on Friday the upland city has programs aimed at protecting its environment from degradation for years.
“We are not like Boracay because we continuously look into possible ways and means on how to correct emerging environmental problems of tourism-related establishments operating in the city, making sure that hotels have their own sewage treatment plants to cater to their generated waste, so as not to contribute in the pollution of our river systems,” Domogan said.
Domogan said Baguio officials understand the tourism department is in the process of identifying nature destinations that need to be protected and improved.
But Domogan assured environment-wise, Baguio is incomparable with Boracay.
He said while Boracay was noted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) as not having proper wastewater disposal facilities, Baguio has never gotten such unfavorable report, since the city government and local government agencies are closely working together to address key environmental issues, especially when tourism-related establishments need to follow some rules.
He cited for instance the Baguio City government closely coordinates with neighboring local governments and the private sector to come up with the “Salaknib ti Waig” (Protection of river tributaries) program.
The program, he said, is for "effectively and efficiently addressing" the pollution problem in the Balili River and its tributaries across the Cordillera region to make sure the water from there is compliant with the Clean Water Act.
As for air pollution, Domogan said the Baguio City government is aggressively implementing its antismoke belching ordinance adding the city has monitoring teams doing roadside inspections and catching and slapping fines on violators.
Domogan said the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) is also regularly checking on establishments to make sure these are linked to the city’s main sewer system and not on the drainage system, so that their wastewater would be treated by the city’s sewerage treatment facility.
The mayor added the
local government had also put up a separate sewage treatment plant for wastes coming from the city's abattoir within the slaughterhouse compound, upon the EMB's advice and is also coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the planned establishment of another sewerage treatment plant within the City Camp Lagoon for the various villages around the camp area.
“We should not be afraid because we are already protecting our environment," added Baguio Vice Mayor Edison Bilog.
Bilog said Baguio had passed its environment code two years ago, adding city residents must be the ones spearheading efforts to improve the city's environmental condition who also recently filed a city council resolution for the conduct of a summit for tourism stakeholders in the city to tackle tourism issues.