Use of Baguio People’s Park to be regulated

By Jordan Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- Councilor Isabelo Cosalan, Jr. has filed before the City Council a proposed ordinance regulating and governing the operation and maintenance of People’s Park, formerly known as People's Park.
    According to Cosalan, there is a need for the city government to put into place rules and regulations governing the operation and maintenance of the said facility “for the guidance and direction of the general public.” He said it had undergone a major rehabilitation to suit the needs of the general population for better comfort, convenience, and services and to reduce the obsolescence of the park in terms of its physical set-up and complexity.
    “The New People's Park is extolled as a world-class people-friendly multifunction events area that residents and visitors are to enjoy. It should be taken care of,” the councilor stated.
    Under the proposed ordinance, admission to the People's Park as a protected landscape shall remain free “through the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing opportunities for the public enjoyment.”
    However, all activities carried out in the park shall be subjected to the control, regulation, and licensing by the city government through the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO).
    The city government shall reserve the right to disallow any activity therein.
Maintenance fees for the use of the area shall be mandatory based on the Environment Code of the City of Baguio (Ordinance 18-2016). 
    Section 36 of the Environment Code states that admission in parks (excluding Burnham Park, Dominican Hill, and Botanical Garden) is free of charge, but the use of the grounds for photo shoots, concerts, and any other legal and moral functions shall be P1,000 for five hours of actual use or P2,000 per day (eight hours) with an additional charge of P100,00 for every hour of set-up time.
    The same section also provides that the CEPMO shall identify parks that may be charged minimal entrance fees for the beautification, upkeep, and maintenance of the space.  
    According to the proposal, activities allowed at People's Park are social programs, musical concerts, television shows and film productions, field demonstrations, sports tournaments, skill olympics/competitions, political rallies, religious, and other similar activities.

Prohibited activities at People's Park include smoking, drinking liquor, bonfire or undue burning, sleep out, walking or displaying medium to big-sized dogs or similar pets, pasturing and letting loose pets and other domesticated animals, destroying flowers or plants, practice driving of two or four-wheel vehicles, roller skating, skateboarding, among others.

The proposed ordinance has been approved by the Baguio City Council on first reading and referred to the city council’s Committee on Tourism, Special Events, Parks, and Playgrounds for review.

People's Park, also known as People’s Park, was named after American Justice George Malcolm in his honor who had served the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1917 to 1936. He authored the City Charter of Baguio in 1909. His bronze bust was installed at the park.

According to Cosalan, People's Park has been a venue of important events such as cultural and theatrical performances and political, economic, and religious activities as it is located at the center of the city and is open to the public.

Pursuant to Resolution 272-2011, the place has been resorted to its original condition as a plaza. Since then, it has been managed by the city government free from any commercial promotion and undertaking.