P775 M projects to boost Baguio tourism, economy

BAGUIO CITY – More than P775 million worth of infrastructure projects are set first quarter of this year which officials said would boost tourism and economic growth of this Summer Capital. Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara bared this saying construction and upgrading of the 21-kilometer Baguio circumferential road with an added appropriation of P300 million would be done beyond first quarter this year.

Vergara said the circuit road which connects the city’s eastern link in Happy Hallow and its western link in Irisan passing through the Kennon road, Marcos highway and Naguilian road will decongest traffic jams at the city’s central business district area as it will serve as an alternate route for motorists.

The lawmaker also disclosed delivery of basic health services at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center will be enhanced following the allocation of P225 million for the purchase of more state-of-the-art medical equipment so that experts will be able to diagnose complicated health problems of patients in the coming years. Vergara collected around P86.8 million from the national government which represents the city’s share from the operation of locators at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Loakan that was earlier wrongly remitted to the national government.

The city government earmarked bulk of the funds for its solid waste management concerns while P16 million was allocated for the purchase of four new dump trucks in order to improve the garbage collection in the city’s 128 barangays.

“We were also able to lobby for the release of at least P80 million from the national government’s calamity fund for the now on-going rehabilitation of the damaged Irisan dumpsite retaining wall and for its conversion into an ecopark that will serve as an added tourist attraction for our visitors,” Vergara said.

He added another P30 million was sourced out from the Tourism and Infrastructure and Entrepreneur Zone Authority (IEZA) for the phase two rehabilitation of the Rose Garden located within Burnham Park.

To reduce traffic jams along roads leading to tourist destinations such as the Botanical Garden, Wright Park and Mines View Park, Vergara sourced out P24 million from the regular infrastructure fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete the bypass roads along North Drive, Leonard Wood Road and Teachers Camp-Manuel Roxas. To improve the century-old Burnham Park, the congressman also allotted P22 million to dredge the 1.2-hectare Burnham lake to concretize its base and prevent silt from accumulating and destroying the view of the lake’s clear waters so the colorful Japanese fishes will be viewed clearly.

For livelihood of barangay-based associations and cooperatives, Vergara distributed over P4.1 million worth of mushroom production packages while another P4 million was spent for bamboo propagation to help produce sufficient supply of bamboos that will be planted in the city’s denuded watersheds as part of the lawmaker’s commitment to environmental preservation and protection.

He said all major infrastructure projects will be completed prior to the conduct of the Baguio flower festival upon the promise of project implementers to prevent inconveniences that will be encountered by local residents and visitors who will be coming up to the city to witness such activities lined up during the month-long festival.