By RUDY D. LIPORADA

I am not writing this like an emperor descending from a high horse and being high handed on a criticism. I am not a snooty Balik Bayan. I am just writing because of a concern on the Baguio City Burnham Lake and how resources maybe being mishandled or not being properly allocated. I am also concerned because The Lake is one of the reflections of what of Baguio City is all about.

If I am wrong in my observations, may the powers that be accept my apologies.

I was in Baguio from April 26 to May 3 in my last leg of a three week vacation to the Philippines from California. One of the items I was excited to see was the Burnham Lake. Following the news, Facebook postings, and emails from friends, I wanted to see how the dredging of Burnham Lake really changed the Lake.

Alas, to me, I did not really see any considerable change. The Lake was as murky as ever. The water line was even lower than what it used to be. The fountain did not even spout a single sprinkle. And I thought to myself: Is this what they told me they spent 29 million pesos on? Is this where they poured in fresh water making residents of the City not have water for a week? Then my imagination really went wild. Whose idea was this? Who approved the project? Who made money on this?

Without asking, I am sure that the City government had something to do with the approval of the project and the release of funds.

Then my imagination really went wilder, questioning. Is this how the funds of the City are now being handled? How do they run projects in the City? How many more projects run this course?

If they could do this to Burnham Lake which has high visibility, how many more projects that are not in view run through this gamut of ‘study’, approval, and financing? And who are making the money?

Of course, I am now just a stranger in the City. Why should I care? But then again, I still have relatives there, friends, associates. I should care.

So, for those who care, you are given this coming election to consider change. Burnham Lake, I believe, is not just the issue. It is only one of the murky reflections of other projects that are being mishandled with money being misappropriated.

Misappropriation could also mean lining the pockets of mal-involved with the sanction of the present administration at the expense of the peoples of Baguio.

If I could vote, I would vote for change but then, again, only Baguio voters could vote for change for the sake of themselves. # nordis.net