BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Summer Capital has experienced a significant increase in surface heat, particularly in built-up areas, according to findings from Project GUHEAT (Geospatial Assessment and Modelling of Urban Heat Islands in Philippine Cities), a study led by Dr. Nathaniel Lubrica of the University of the Cordilleras (UC).
The study found that land surface temperature hotspots in the city’s Central Business District (CBD) expanded from 43.38 hectares in 1989 to 82.82 hectares in 2011, before expanding further to about 305 hectares between 2014 and 2019.
UC Geographic Information System (GIS) coordinator Josh Gabriel Roldan explained that most of the identified hotspots were located in built-up areas, where buildings, roads, and other structures absorb and retain heat.
Measures such as increasing tree cover and gardens in hotspot areas, as well as using heat-reflective paints and wall coverings, can help reduce the amount of heat absorbed by structures, he said.
For households, Roldan encouraged the use of light-colored roofing materials, which can reflect more sunlight compared to darker surfaces and noted that increased dependence on air conditioning may also contribute to outdoor heat as cooling systems release heat into the surrounding environment.
The findings provide additional data for Baguio’s continuing efforts toward environmental protection and climate resilience as the city balances urban development with the need to maintain green spaces and address environmental risks.
Under the Baguio Environment Code, or City Ordinance No. 18, Series of 2016, the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) under Rhenan Diwas is tasked with responsibilities related to climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the protection and preservation of tree parks and greenbelts.
The city has also formulated its Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan for 2020 to 2030, which works alongside other development, land-use, and disaster risk reduction plans.
These existing measures provide a government framework relevant to GUHEAT’s recommendations on increasing urban greenery and reducing heat-absorbing surfaces in identified hotspot areas as Baguio continues to develop. -(By Allan Roy Canilang, UP-Baguio Intern/gabykeith)
