Baguio folks hit gating, fencing of Burnham Park

BAGUIO CITY – Residents accused the city government of “privatizing” the famed Burnham Park after it was fenced and now about to be gated.

They said the city government should stop the plan. The clamor has reached social networking site Facebook, where a petition has been making rounds.

The petition is spearheaded by the same group that opposed the earth balling of trees at Luneta Hill here for the expansion of SM City.

They urged Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the City Council to stop efforts to install gates around the 32.88-hectare park.

Entitled "Mayor Domogan and the Baguio City Council: Keep Burnham Park green, open and beyond the commerce of man", the petition calls to stop three plans for the park, the city’s version of Central Park in New York.

Burnham Park, named after American architect Daniel Hudson Burnham who was asked to design the city in 1904 after designing the master plan of Chicago, is the only remaining green spot within the central business district.

Petitioners said they will again hold street demonstrations against “installation of gates for it will serve no practical purpose and will only be a waste of precious public funds."

They said security concerns would  be better addressed by adding more  security personnel and installing more lights.

Karlo Altomonte, a playwright and director, drafted the online petition. 

On Thursday, the online petition “has gone viral”  and only needed 31 more signatories before the group brings it to Domogan's office and the city council.

The park has recently undergone rehabilitation  with enhancement of the Rose Garden  where a dancing light was installed as well as the dredging of the Burnham Lake where a fountain was placed and is now functional.

Major works on the park included fencing of the perimeter started by Baguio-Benguet Bishop CarlitoCenzon and which was supported by President Benigno Aquino III.  

The petition also called for a stop on the "planned concreting of portions of the Melvin Jones Football Grounds."

"What the Melvin Jones Football Grounds needs is the improvement of the pitch by clearing it from debris and the maintenance of the grass cover for the enjoyment of both local athletes and families for activities such as picnics, etc," petitioners added.

Also denouncing Baguio Flower Festival organizers, petitioners are calling for a halt to "the holding of the annual Market Encounter held at the biking area".

"The renowned city planner of Baguio, Daniel Burnham, reserved the biggest piece of level land that was once known as Minac for the enjoyment of the general public, particularly those of moderate means, and to this day it serves that purpose."

Three years ago, protests met the private development of Athletic Bowl by a Korean firm because the cost of the annual rent by the developer was too low and the massive structural development and its eventual privatization,  under a 50-year lease contract, earned the ire of residents.