By ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
www.nordis.net

The opening salvo of the Baguio residents’ protest on Friday against SM’s plan to kill trees by cutting and earth-balling at the Luneta Hill showed again their unity to preserve the city. They too called for an urban development that shall be pro-environment and pro-people. Joyful to watch, a mobilization dominated by the youth from various schools. It reflects the fact that – Baguio is an educational center of the north. They, their parents, and their educational institutions should be credited for their value of ecological protection, a value which is blinded by greed as manifested by their call: cut your corporate greed!

Baguio has a history of displaying people’s power where its residents raised their issues in the streets. Particular with these issues were related on environment and appropriate urban development and even discrimination. From Carlos P. Romulo ’s remarks that Igorots are not Filipinos to Jun Labo’s discriminatory statements; from the modern protest against the Taiwanese-Tuntex development of Club John Hay to the present’s SM plan to kill trees to give way for a parking area.

Notable from these acts of people power is the role of the youth. Their awareness to any issues affecting the city proved that they can act collectively, and collectively they gain what they aim or aspire for.

It is therefore understandable that the youth raised development-related issues for Baguio anchored on its role as an educational center of the north. Their voices should be heard also in all venues, including the city council, as they can contribute to a comprehensive development plan of the city, which in reality, is still absent.

I remember well the role of the youth in the post July 1990 earthquake. Baguio and the affected areas of Northern Luzon seemed to be a hopeless case for development. Properties in these areas were bargained as they thought it was impossible to recover and rebuild the economy ravaged by a natural calamity. Residents slowly recovered, though, from their own effort primarily until Baguio and the affected areas were back to where they are now. There was no SM then. And I believe that SM failed to share his fortune to the affected people during that time.

That post 1990 earthquake, multi-sectoral groups gathered. Their voices were shared and heard and incorporated in what is known as the vision for Baguio. It already laid down a concrete vision for a comprehensive urban development for the city. Among them were for ecological conservation and an economy recognizing local dynamism.

Yet despite being landslide prone, there was no clear ecology program to at least minimize the effect of the wrath of nature if a similar earthquake like that of the 1990 earthquake happens. ( God forbids!). Even appropriate planning for the economy is not addressed. Instead the local officials welcomed SM with open arms. Now SM is made a lord by these local political lords. It can take whatever it wants for its business. It was able to allegedly include a meter of the road in front of the Sunshine Park. Now it wanted a parking area project at the Luneta Hill. A permit was already granted and an Environmental Compliance Certificate amended in its favor even without the mandated of public consultation that is required made first before such ECC can be granted.

Maybe the next that SM will buy is the City Hall? I hope not? Because if that will happen, the city will be run like SM!

By the way, I learned from reliable sources that the Baden Powel area and the area occupied by SM, including the Luneta Hill, were originally a part of the ancestral land of Mateo Carino. Titles passed from one hand to another as it was taken from the original owner, like how the Carinos lost their ancestral land in now so called Club John Hay area.

I like, too, how Mike Arvisu told the story. SM is a visitor. But it now tries to destroy the area where it was welcomed. And it is doing it for profit. But the people will not allow that. They have shown it in their mass action on Friday, as people believe that the development of Baguio is theirs to decide. Not SM that only thinks for profit. # nordis.net