By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — The updated proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of Baguio for 2010 until 2020 is one being geared to “promote balanced ecology, preserve and enhance the natural beauty of the city; to accelerate economic growth, to attain higher levels and culturally enriched social development, and improved quality of social services”.

The plan was presented by Officer-in-charge City Planning and Development coordinator Evelyn B. Cayat, in the 8th public hearing on the plan at Lucnab, here in the city recently.

The development vision of CLUP, she said, is for “A breath-taking City of Pines, a living stage of culture and arts in harmony with nature, a prime tourist destination and center for quality education, with secured, responsible, empowered and united people.”

She said that they revisited development visions from the voice of the youth, voice of the barangays and existing vision statement of Baguio City in support of the CLUP.

Cayat explained that Baguio as observed is with an active tourism sector which she said is very helpful to the local economy. She added in her presentation that the city is the seat of sub-national government agencies.

Cayat said that Baguio has an active business sector & export industry and active civil society groups. She noted that the city has a high literacy rate of 98% added to its nature as the educational center of the North.

She also said that there is a functional city and barangay governance system and a peaceful environment.

From these, Cayat in her presentation said that the Baguio is gifted with opportunities like rich natural environment, a tourism haven because of its diverse cultural heritage and cool climate.

She added that the city is a gateway to the rest of the Cordilleras and has a potential economic growth center. Cayat also said Baguio can be the top education center of the North. The city she said is among the top ten ICT centers of the country, the 9th in fact. She also said Baguio forms a part of the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle.

But according to the presentation, the city is facing competition for tourism attraction areas, tourism revenue, due to inadequate access facilities to Baguio, inability to cope with the requirements for rapid urbanization, natural calamities, limited water source and limited areas for habitation/development.

Cayat said the city has exceeded its carrying capacity because of grow nigrant population. “Umad-adu ti tattao, umad-adu ti agkasapulan isunga umad-adu met ti kasapulan a serbisyo” (The population is growing bigger so there is a need for more services) she added. This is the reason why she explained that the city must come up with a comprehensive plan.

The goals of the CLUP, Cayat presented are for ecology, faster economic growth (sustainable development), higher levels and culturally enriched social development, efficient and effective development administration and management, efficient and effective infrastructure support facilities and utilities.

Cayat said according to the plan, the city needs to be free from congestion. She also said that Baguio land uses shall complement the development roles of adjacent La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.

She said that CLUP will be implemented with three implementing tools. She said that these will be the zoning ordinance where she stressed that there will be stricter regulation, local Development Investment Plan, and the Public investment plan.

Meanwhile, City Council Chairman Isabelo Cosalan said he hopes that through CLUP, the garbage woes of the city will finally be resolved. He said that an engineered sanitary landfill is being eyed at the vicinities of Camp 7, Sto. Thomas School Site and Sto. Thomas Proper. Cosalan said that the intended ESL is part of the long term plan. # nordis.net