Saving Burnham Park
TO GET MARKER FROM HISTORICAL COMMISH
BURNHAM Park may soon be installed with a historical or heritage marker.
In a letter dated April 17, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines recognized the Burnham Park as a historical site.
"We are pleased to inform you that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines has recognized the historical significance of Burnham Park through the purpose of a historical marker in Baguio City," said executive director Ludovico Badoy to the Baguio Heritage Foundation, Inc.
This was in response to the foundation which sought for a declaration of the famous park and its twelve cluster areas as historical or heritage sites in June 2, 2014.
BHFI chair Dr. Ronald Paraan told media their move was driven by the need to save the park, which includes the Melvin Jones, one of the largest open spaces left in the city eyed to house either an underground parking or two multilevel parking establishment.
"We felt that we should preservr what is left of the Burnham Park," he said.
Paraan emphasized the park as it is now because implementing development on it would destroy it being a natural aquifer.
It will also reduce the open spaces in Baguio City and accommodating thousand of cars in a parking area would further add pollution to the park and the Central Business District.
"With this declaration, we try to curtail further development in Burnham Park. A heritage site declaration may defer develop- ment," Paraan noted.
Citing the Republic Act No. 10066, any development, modification, or restoration of a declared historic or heritage site will still be subjected for approval of the NHCP.
"If the development such as the parking idea in Melvin Jones will be detrimental, it can be denied by the Commission," Paraan highlighted.
Based on the petition of the BHFI, the declaration of the Burnham Park includes its 12 clusters - the Melvin Jones Grandstand, Burnham Lagoon, Children's Playground, Skating Rink, Rose Garden, Orchidarium, Igorot Garden, Athletic Bowl, Picnic Grove, Japanese Peace Tower, Pine Trees of the World and the Sunshine Park.
Right now the BHFI is tasked to finalized the inscription of the marker to be installed in Burnham Park.
Aside from the declaration, with the fencing of Burnham Park already completed, Paraan hopes more efforts toward securing and preserving the park can be implemented.
BHFI trustee Vic Agcaoile suggested, "Dapat during certain parts of the night, nasasaraduhan ito and then we can do some clearing in the park for it to be ready again for the following day."
Currently a proposal is pending in the City Council of Baguio seeking for it to become carfree to make it a pedestrianized park with more space for recreational activities and free from pollution.