COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Mayor, Burnham Park petitioners resolve issues

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan and petitioners advocating to open the Burnham Park skating rink for free use by the public ironed out issues in a meeting last Thursday.

Both parties agreed that the lease contract for the operation of the facility presently held by concessionaire Quirante’s Fun Rides/Skates Rentals and Recreation Center set to expire on November 2 this year will not be renewed by the city and instead the operation will be bid out based on terms that are beneficial to both the city government and the public.

A proposed master development plan for the facility will be drafted by a task force to be formed by the mayor composed of experts from both the private and government institutions.  The plan will serve as basis in the drafting of the terms of reference for the bidding.

After hearing the mayor’s justifications, the petitioners led by Bishop CarlitoCenzon of the Burnham Park Fencing Committee, urban planner and former city architect Joseph Alabanza of the Baguio Heritage Committee and former punong barangay Ferdy Bayasen acknowledged that the city cannot allow the absolute free use of the skating rink being one of the few income generators where the city source out funds for the maintenance of the park,

At present, the city earns only P15 million from the various park concessionaires which is way below the fund requirement of P37 million to pay for manpower, water, fertilizer and other maintenance needs of the park, according to the mayor.

As to the petitioners’ call for the removal of other business enterprises not in line with the area’s intended use, the mayor said this is consistent with the city’s stand that these operations which include bump cars and arcade games must not be allowed inside the facility meant only for a skating rink and including a refreshment canteen and coffee shop.

Bayasen said the petition entitled, “A People’s Initiative and Manifesto: “Return the Skating Rink at Burnham Park to the Public’” which gathered a total of 17,065 street and 1,119 on-line signatures aimed to get the pulse of the residents on how they want the skating rink managed. 

He said that the common sentiment was that the facility be restored to its olden day status as an open facility.

Alabanza who broached the drafting of the proposed master plan and who will possibly head the task force said they will consider the suggestion in the drafting of the plan.  He committed to complete the master plan within two weeks.

The Baguio Heritage Committee is also working on a “mother petition” to declare Burnham Park as heritage site but Alabanza said the plan will not abandon the commercial area component of the park.

The city council through a resolution authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda recently sought the conduct of a feasibility study to determine the best option to be adopted for the operation of the skating rink.

The body tasked the city environment and parks management office, the local finance committee and other concerned offices to undertake the study.  -- Aileen P. Refuerzo

Vigan named to finals of Wonder  Cities of the World search

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — The people of Vigan beamed with pride after learning that this world-renowned heritage city was picked as one of the finalists of the ongoing search for the New Seven Wonder Cities of the World (N7WCW) early morning Wednesday.

At about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Philippines, Bernard Weber, the founder  President of New7Wonders, announced the top 14 finalists for the search of the N7WCW in Munich, Germany following the culmination of casting of votes for the second final phase on October 7, 2014.

The 13 other official finalists for the search are Barcelona (Spain), Beirut (Lebanon), Chicago (United States), Doha (Qatar), Durban (South Africa), Havana (Cuba), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), La Paz (Bolivia), London (United Kingdom), Mexico City (Mexico), Perth (Australia), Quito (Ecuador), Reykjavik(Iceland) and Vigan (Philippines).

Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie S. Medina expressed gratitude to God and all individuals who threw their support to Vigan’s bid be to named one of the seven new wonders cities of the world.

“Thank you and thank God! In solidarity, we have reached the last phase before we write another milestone in Vigan, and our country’s history,” she said.’

Medina said that having gone this far; the unprecedented votes from the local and international communities is an affirmation that Vigan is truly a wonder city.

“I therefore appeal for your unequivocal support in the final leg of the search as we are up against formidable mega cities of the world; let us give a reason for Filipinos to smile and be proud by voting Vigan as one of the N7WCW come December 7, 2014, Viva Vigan, Viva Philippines!” Medina said. – Freddie G. Lazaro

Bishop opposes electronic gambling in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio Apostolic Vicar Bishop Carlito Cenzon on Thursday raised alarm over the reported entry of electronic gambling in the city.

In a meeting with Mayor Mauricio Domogan last Thursday, the bishop served intention to oppose the entry of the so-called electronic casino (e-casino) which he said has reportedly been operating in one of the shopping malls in the city 

The mayor authorized the bishop to conduct a study and present a report on the matter for action by the city executive.

As this developed, a company is reportedly eyeing the city government’s nod in its application to operate electronic bingo (e-bingo) and other games in a hotel at Lualhati barangay here.

Its application was accordingly approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) but it will still need a Letter of No Objection from the city government as a requirement for a license to operate.

Cenzon had in the past been at the forefront of the campaigns against casino and lotto, bingo and small town lottery in the city.

He along with Fr. Andy Cosalan and Pastor Simplicio Dangawan of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) led the Metro Baguio Multi-Sectoral Movement against the Casino to block the plan to operate a casino at the Camp John Hay.

The group said the city must always be vigilant in its stand against all forms of gambling under any form or guise citing Resolution No. 236 series of 1991 entitled “A Resolution opposing the return of casino to Baguio or the establishment of a new one under any other form or guise,” Resolution No. 122-02 entitled “Expressing the Sentiment of the People of Baguio and the Policy of the City Government against Gambling…” and Resolution No. 446 series of 2008 “Vigorously opposing the establishment of a casino or the conduct of a gambling activities at Camp John Hay and anywhere in the city…”

The mayor also has a standing order for the police to stop all illegal gambling activities in the city including those barangay-run bingo events noting that these have been used as cover for gambling operations.

This prompted the city council to approve Resolution No. 173 series of 2013 entitled “Requesting the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) to cause the stoppage of all gambling activities in all Bingo sa Barangay.” – Aileen  Refuerzo