MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Tramline for Baguio roads, solar lights for park mulled
By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., during the regular media Ugnayan at city hall last week made it known an intention to install a tramline, at no cost to the city, along major routes in the city.

From the front of Baguio Patriotic School, the two-kilometer one-lane upward tramline loop is envisioned to pass along Maharlika building, Session road, SM, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) bldg, University of the Philippines (UP), Baguio Convention Center (BCC) and back to Harrison road.

Four cars are proposed to continuously service the public with a 70-passenger capacity, with about 48 persons seated at a time.


The idea came from being able to provide mass transport while having cleaner air along the main thoroughfare, the mayor said. The cars are patterned after that of San Francisco, USA which the mayor has observed during his travels.

It may also turn out to be a local attraction, as this would be the first in the country, the mayor added.

Other options on economic investment aspect are still being studied.

The group, Advena, which proposed the tramline has worked with US and European countries for several endeavors, the mayor also intimated.

During the same forum, the mayor also announced the experimental solarization project of the USAID, as lighting for Burnham Park. The project may also be extended for the heating of the swimming pool, and lighting of the Athletic Bowl Track Oval. Said endeavors would deem the use of facilities for practice, even at night time, the mayor said.

Solar energy cells would be used for the project, and guaranteed for a lifetime. Though very expensive, the solar cells would be provided at “no cost to the city.” Solar panels would be used to collect solar energy, and would generate light energy to be used after, the mayor said.

Trial lighting and signing would be on March 1, after the grand float parade, with Ambassador to the US Christie Kenney present, the mayor also said.


Mayor ‘shares’ powers with ‘ninongs’ for dev’t
By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. said his office and the Department of Interior and Local Government’s plan to “spread out blessings more equally among barangays” with approval of an innovative planning framework by the City Development Council.

During the weekly “Ugnayan” hosted by DZEQ, Feb. 12, he said members of the CDC have agreed to the sharing of “some executive powers among city councilors who shall be made care-takers he referred to as “ninongs” of 129-barangays divided into 20-districts.”

Bautista said the plan, a first in the country, is geared towards bringing services closer to the constituents of the city.“Normally, a chief executive would try to hold on to as much power as he can… but not in our city and under our administration.”

“With the framework in place,” he explained, “our councilors can easily assess and address various concerns of their respective districts via needed legislation and possibly, through direct consultation with our office who is tasked under RA 7160 to prepare the annual city budget.”

Bautista said the executive branch cannot go it alone in trying to address the minutest concerns of barangays.

“On top of these, we can now appropriate equal amounts per district to ensure each barangay would have an equal share of blessings from the city government,” he added.

During the initial CDC meeting Feb. 9, some councilors expressed fears their assignment to various districts may result into ultra vires acts or those beyond their mandated powers which may lead to administrative sanctions.

Trinidad, in a much earlier interview however said the division of 129-barangays into districts is “not political in nature as what Congressional districts are.”

“It will not go against established provisions of the RA 7160, particularly in non-delegation of powers further delegated by Congress to the local chief executive,” she said. “In fact, our local legislators are being tapped to lead some city special projects which is permitted under the code which is why we have councilors taking care of some special events or some ad hoc committees under the office of the mayor.”