Funds set for Baguio barangay projects

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – There are no large-scale infrastructure projects lined up for implementation by the city government this year, based on the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) approved recently by the city council.

Instead, the AIP which lists the projects to be funded from the 20 percent development fund gives emphasis on barangay development projects which were given P30 million or 33.22 percent of the total AIP cost of P97,307,000.

The construction or rehabilitation of the drainage system including flood control projects in various barangays located along river tributaries was also given P24,807,000 or 27.47 percent.

A total of P13,500,000 was also allotted to the construction of or rehabilitation of sewerlines at the various barangays while P12 million will go to parks development program and P10 million will be used for the development and installation of traffic and transport facilities.

A P7 million differential from the approved city budget of P1,286,143,000.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan affirmed that no big infrastructure projects are set for implementation by the city this year as the city decided to focus on sustaining its garbage disposal programs including the continuation of the rehabilitation of the aging sewer treatment plant (STP) and sewerlines, peace and order and barangay infrastructures.

The mayor however said the city will pursue three key ventures for the city under public-private partnership mode of development namely the development of Athletic Bowl, the rehabilitation of Asinminihydroelectric plants and the Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology streetlight replacement and management.

Apart from the three major undertakings, the city also identified major development projects that are proposed to be funded from city funds and other external sources including loans, lease and Build-Operate-Transfer options.

These include the development and rehabilitation of Burnham Park, Wright Park, Bayan Park, Botanical/Centennial Park, Dominican Heritage Hill Development, training center and livelihood center at Upper Session Road, privatization of the abattoir, AsinHotspring development, commercial buildings at DPS-Beneco, development of Baguio Convention Center. North-bound bus terminal at Slaughterhouse Compound, construction of Magsaysay building, continuation of the construction of the fire station at Aurora Hill, renovation of the second building of the sari-sari section of the city market, upgrading of Malcolm Square, south-bound terminal, city cemetery expansion, socialized housing project, engineered sanitary landfill, full closure of Irisan dumpsite, City Camp lagoon rehabilitation, forest protection project including fencing of watersheds, construction of mini-seweraget treatment plants, fencing of city properties, Baguio Circumferential Road, slope protection projects, among others.