P-Noy surprises mayor, Bishop Cenzon in visits

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – He was on vacation, but President Benigno S. Aquino III made it known last week that he wanted priority given to tourism development in this city and protection of watersheds in the Cordillera.

Aquino’s concerns came out when he visited Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Diocese of Baguio and then surprised city hall officials when he walked unannounced into the office of Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan last Dec. 31.

Local media monitored the two visits made by the President even though they were meant to be “secret” since his trip here was earlier announced as a “private visit.”

It was learned, though, that when he met Cenzon and Domogan separately, Aquino told them that he wanted Baguio to take the limelight in the Department of Tourism’s program to promote tourist spots in the country.

He said the promotion of the city’s tourist spots, like Burnham Park, in order to further attract more foreign and domestic tourists must be given priority by the DOT.

He wants an aggressive promotional campaign by showing the old and new features of Burnham Park and other major tourist spots in the city, similar to the ads that promoted his advocacy for a “Tuwid na Daan” campaign that helped him win support of the electorate.

Accompanied by Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, the President’s visit drew a positive feedback, particularly in city hall.

Domogan said Aquino’s visit was a good sign of having direct linkages with the Office of the President in the coming months so that they could bring to his attention pressing concerns of the city government that need presidential intervention.

Before ending their one-on-one discussion, Aquino and Domogan exchanged mobile phone numbers to allow them to have direct access to each other.

The mayor said he will comply with the President’s instructions to write him about the needed concerted effort to preserve and protect not only the city’s, but also the Cordillera region’s watersheds and forests which serve as the watershed cradle of Northern Luzon.

He said Aquino was aware that Cordillera watersheds give life to agriculture and energy sectors through water used for domestic, irrigation and industrial purposes.

He also appreciated the fact that the President visited him to discuss development and progress of this city despite the mayor’s affiliation with the Lakas-Kampi-CMD political coalition associated with the Chief Executive’s predecessor.