Baguio top SK officials / Bicycle Day activities

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government led by outgoing mayor Mauricio Domogan feted Sangguniang Kabataan officials who shone in this year’s Search for Most Outstanding SK chairperson, SK Kagawad, SK district coordinator and SK District held last May 4 at Venus Parkview Hotel. Domogan with Councilors Benny Bomogao, Lilia Farinas and SKF Baguio President Levy Lloyd Orcales handed out plaques to the outstanding SK performers as per Resolution 142 series of 2019 authored by Orcales.

The outstanding SK chairpersons were Carla Joy M. Cacho of Irisan Barangay as the most outstanding followed by Van Paulo C. Sanchez of Brookspoint, Jeric M. Sinner (Gibraltar Barangay); Daniel M. Seguin (City Camp Proper); and Mark Anthony Y. Alvar (Lower Lourdes Subd.) The most exemplary SK Kagawad was Thom Bryan Buclay of Kias followed by Servando Quelino (West Quirino Hill), Kenneth Barlis (Irisan Barangay), Nawrence Panyo (Gibraltar Barangay), Georgie Mae Domegson (Middle Quirino Hill) and Claire Tel-e (San Vicente).

 District 12 (Kias, Loakan-Apugan, Loakan Proper, Loakan Liwanag, Fort Del Pilar, Atok Trail) was the most exemplary SK district followed by District 5 (City Camp Central, City Camp Proper, Lower Rock Quarry, Upper Rock Quarry, Middle Rock Quarry, GEFA, Upper QM, Palma-Urbano), District 8 (Pinget, East Quirino Hill, Middle Quirino Hill, Lower Quirino Hill, West Quirino Hill, Camdas, Happy Homes-Old Lucban, Dizon Subdivision) and District 15 (Asin Road, Lourdes Subd. Extension, Lourdes Proper, Lower Lourdes, DominicanMIrador, San Luis Village, San Roque Village).

 Aloisius Nyk Aldea of District 5 was the most exemplary district coordinator followed by Soulykha Ruth Chokyogen of District 8, Precious Wigan of District 15 and Leani Aginnaya Pangket of District 12. “Despite the great number of tasks that are now being devolved to the Sangguniang Kabataan in terms of youth welfare and sports development, it is admirable for the city of Baguio to see the passion, commitment and dedication of SK officials in their duties in the barangay and the city,” the resolution noted.

 “The SK (members), not only in the city of Baguio, is continuously improving themselves to function better in their tasks as young leaders of the land even with the uncertainty as posed by the implementation of the SK Funds and COA Handbook.” Orcales said Republic Act No. 10742 or more commonly known as the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, provides for the reintegration of the youth in local governance and that it is expected form the SK officials that all will be motivated in serving the public more than self-interest.

 “The Philippine Youth Development Plan provides for the duties and responsibilities of the SK officials primarily geared towards the exercise of youth involvement in nine centers of youth participation namely; economic empowerment, health, education, social inclusion and equity, peace building and security, governance, active citizenship, environment, and global mobility.”

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Bicycle Day reels off today (Sunday, June 2) in Baguio with a simple celebration headed by the city government and various bicycle associations in the city. The celebration kicks off with a program set at 8 a.m. at the Athletic Bowl at Burnham Park to be graced by outgoing Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Mayor-elect Benjamin Magalong and City Council Committee on Tourism, Parks and Playground Chair Coun. Elmer Datuin.

At 8:30 a.m., a fun ride around the central business district and the outskirts will fire off covering the following route: Baguio Athletic Bowl- Abad Santos Drive-Lake Drive Upper Magsaysay Avenue- Bonifacio St.-Bonifacio St. Roundabout take a U-turn-Upper Magsaysay Ave.-Session Road Upward-Post Office Loop-Session Road Downward Harrison Road U-turn at SSS-Abanao Road-Yandoc St.- Legarda Road-M.H. Del Pilar St.-Kisad Road-BGH Roundabout-Military Cut-off-South Drive-Outlook Drive-Mines View-Gibraltar Road-Felipe St.-Wright Park Lagoon-Pacdal Circle-Leonard Wood Road-Post Office Loop-Bonifacio St.- Magsaysay Ave.-Session Road Downward-Harrison RoadAbad Santos Drive-Baguio Athletic Bowl. Upon return to the venue, fun games will kick off like the obstacle course, BMX Showdown, Unicycle Kids exhibition, bike exhibits and bike clinic featuring basic bike repairs and maintenance.

 This is the second year that the city marked the World Bicycle Day by virtue of Resolution No. 116 series of 2018 “Declaring Every 3rd Day of June Every Year as Bicycle Day in the City of Baguio in Support to the International Work Bicycle Day and Incorporating Related Activities Therein.”

 Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier issued an administrative order allowing bicycles access to the city’s main thoroughfare from 5 a.m. of June 2 to 12 a.m. of June 3 to give way to the activities organized by the different cycling groups and the city government through the City Tourism and Special Events Division of the Office for Administration. Parking will not be allowed along Session Road on said hours to free the parking spaces and turn them into “bike lanes for-a-day” instead.

The celebration was “in acknowledgement of the contribution of cycling to the world’s sustainable development goals, the United National has declared the third day of June as International World Bicycle Day and invites all member states and relevant stakeholders to celebrate and promote awareness of the event,” the resolution notes.

 “As a counterpart, the City has to encourage its citizens to use bicycles as a means of transportation. Aside from health benefits derived from cycling, it is eco-friendly as it does not emit smoke and it saves money as it does not use fuel. It will likewise decongest traffic and needs minimal space for parking.”