Baguio mayor wants stop to poll animosity

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan urged local folks to   “forget our differences,” from the recent elections and “unite and work as a team for the good of the city.” 

“Let’s be proud we had a clean, honest, fair exercise, wherein we were given a fresh mandate to serve the city for three more years,” the mayor said.

He urged Baguio citizens to suggest projects or programs to improve the city. These could be implemented, as long as it is feasible, and within the budgetary capacity of the local government.

The mayor made the pronouncements during media forum at city hall last week.

He said arrangements will be done for discussions with congressman-elect Mark Go on the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) concept.

This involves programs on tourism, housing and development, investment opportunities including circumferential road project. 

The proposed outer circumferential road runs through Sablan-Tublay-Itogon-Baguio-Itogon, and back to Sablan through some portions of provincial roads.

If the project is realized, motorists could reach adjacent municipalities, or even the lowlands without traversing Baguio City, or the central business district.   

 Meanwhile, the inner circumferential road includes that of Tawang to Ambiong, and Shilan to Beckel, all in La Trinidad.

Said roads skip the central portions of La Trinidad and Baguio and use alternate roads to other parts of the city.

On the other hand, the municipality of Tuba, with mayor-elect Ignacio Rivera, and board member-elect mayor Florencio Bentrez agreed to help with the BLISTT plans and programs.

The BLISTT concept involves coordinated efforts with adjacent Benguet towns on solving problems such as water, garbage and promoting tourism and economic development.        

Domogan sits as chair of the BLISTT body.