Baguio Losing Its Natural Beauty

Baguio City is known as the summer capital of the Philippines. Its cold climate and pristine surroundings attract thousands of local and foreign tourists every year. But a lot of things have changed. Both tourists and residents have to face the degrading situation of its urban poor population as well as the problems resulting from government neglect and misprioritization. 

BY JOHNNY FIALEN
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat  

Baguio’s central business district: a disaster waiting to happen?

BAGUIO CITY – For the past years, besides being the summer capital of the Philippines, Baguio City’s source of pride has been its reputation as a two-time winner in the national competition for the cleanest and greenest city. It is also one of the most highly urbanized cities in the country. But through the years, Baguio city has increasingly confronted the problems of urbanization, destruction of the natural environment and poverty.

Around the city, especially in the Central Business District (CBD), new big buildings have been allowed to be erected, such as the local branch of the biggest department store chain, Shoemart (SM Pines), the Center Mall, Porta Vaga, among others. Added to this are pedestrian overpasses, parks and trees adorned with Christmas lights all year round, giving a glow of life in the city at night.

According to Mrs. Nelia Cid, a business woman, “Marami nang nagbago sa syudad natin, matindi na ang labanan sa kalakalan, lalo at nandito na ang SM. Sabi nila ito raw  ang bumago sa takbo ng kalakalan lalo sa mga maliliit na negosyo” (Our city has changed a lot, especially with the establishment of SM affecting  the business of small and medium enterprises).

She added, “Unti- unti na ring nawawala ang natural na kagandahan ng syudad. Sa pagpapatayo ng iba’t-ibang gusali ay nadadamay ang kapaligiran dahil sa pagputol  ng mga punong-kahoy na nagbibigay ng malinis na hangin at nagbibigay din ng tubig sa atin. Pati mga bundok ay kalbo na, kaya  medyo mainit na rin dito sa atin. Dati ang lamig-lamig na siyang unang nagugustuhan ng mga turista. Ngayon ang mga kalsada ay puno ng mga sasakyan at ang Jadewell lang ang nakikinabang dahil pati kalsada ay ibinenta na ng ating mga opisyales. Siksikan na rin ang mga bahay at mga gusali.

(Gradually, the natural beauty of Baguio is diminishing due to infrastructure projects which affect our environment. Trees, that give clean air and which are essential to the maintenance of the source of the water we drink, are cut. Our mountains are denuded thus affecting our cool climate, which tourists like very much. Our roads are full of vehicles from which only Jadewell is benefiting since our officials have sold our roads to them. There is a congestion of houses and buildings).

Outside the central business district of Metro Baguio are many urban poor or “squatter” communities like at the Irisan dumpsite, San Carlos Heights along the Naguilian Road, Bontoc Village in Camp 8, Kennon Road, Sto.Rosario Barangay along Marcos Highway, among others.

At the Irisan dumpsite, hundreds of squatters have occupied the place for so many years. A community of mixed migrants from different places in Region 1 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), it is similar to the Payatas area in the National Capital Region (NCR) where mountains of garbage are found.

According to Manong Gandiw Sadongor, 75, a resident, “nabayag kamin nga adda ditoy, twenty years siguro, narugit ken naangot a lugar ngem isu met ti ayan ti kuwarta, gapu ta adda kuwarta iti basura.Kaadwan nga trabaho mi ket agpidot ti basura ken dagiti dadduma ket vendors iti sideswalks, laborers, karpentero, ken adda met laeng agpalpalama a daduma ditoy, isu ti pagtrabahoan mi ket saan nga permanente” (We’ve been here for twenty years, it is dirty here and it stinks but this is where the money is, because there is money in garbage. Most of us here are garbage collectors while others are sidewalk vendors, laborers, and carpenters, and so our work is just seasonal).

Sadongor also added that as garbage collector, he could earn as high as P450 a day but most of the time it ranges only from P200-300 a day. Most of the children’s ailments are cough, colds, loose bowel movement (LBM) and respiratory tract infections owing to the unsanitary surroundings.            

He also said ” ti problema mi ditoy ket danum a mainom, ken agas koma a libre. Adda met ti umay mangbisita kadakami nga dodoktor ngem manmano, gapu siguro ta naangot ditoy ayan mi. Nakaabongot da pay garud ti panyo ken talaga nga saan da a makabayag ditoy”. (Our problem here is the lack of potable water and free medicines. Doctors visit us but they don’t stay long because of the foul-smelling garbage.)

According to Geraldine Cacho, of Organisasyon dagiti Nakurapay nga Umili iti Syudad (ORNUS), “Gapu iti kumarkaro a krisis ti ekonomya tayo, inmado dagiti naawanan ti trabaho na gapu iti retrenchment kadagiti minas ken paktorya, ken pribitisasyon dagiti naduma-duma nga ahensiya ti gobyerno. Isu nga inmado dagiti urban poor ditoy syudad tayo. Ti maysa nga nangpakaro ti sitwasyon ket ti pannaka-privatize ti Camp John Hay a kayat na nga agpalawa ti sakop a nakaapektaran kadagiti 13 barangays kas ti Happy Hollow, Scout Barrio, Cadaclan village ken dadduma pay” (The worsening economic crisis has caused many to lose their jobs due to retrenchment in the mines and factories, and the  privatization of many  government agencies. Thus there is an influx of the urban poor in our city because of these. The privatization of Camp John Hay even aggravated our situation because its expansion affected 13 barangays like Happy Hollow, Scout Barrio, Cadaclan village and others).

Cacho added, “Awan pay ti naaramidan ti napalabas nga administrasyon ti syudad para iti pagsayaatan dagiti urban poor. Adda idi 1992 ti  R.A. 7279 para iti urban land  reform para koma iti low cost housing  ngem saan met a nabaelan dagiti urban poor gaputa kasapulan nga ti suweldom ket P6,000 kada bulan, ket ti birok da laeng ket P3,000-4,000 laeng ken awan ti ikulateral da pay tapno makabalay da koma. Pati dagiti kasapulan kas iti danum, napintas a kalsada, libre nga agas ket marigatan da  pay nga mangited”.( The past administration did not do anything to uplift the situation of the urban poor. In 1992, the RA 7279 on low cost housing did not prosper because people could only avail of it if their salary is about P6,000 a month and not if they earn only from P3,000-4,000 without any collateral to give. Even basic services like water, free medicines, and roads are hardly implemented).

She also reiterated, that “the immediate call is to stop the demolition of urban poor houses and stalls and to immediately investigate the city’s land problems. Land must be awarded to occupants especially those long residing in public areas. Add to these, just wages must be given to the workers for a decent living.”   

Baguio residents have different perceptions as to the changing landscape and living conditions in the city. But one thing is imperative. Those responsible for city planning have to face the degrading situation of its urban poor and other problems resulting from government neglect and misprioritization. The urban poor will continue to work hard for land and livelihood to rise above the blight of poverty. For now, Baguio’s awards and reputation as the summer capital of the Philippines remain devoid of meaning. Bulatlat     

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