By Aileen Refuerzo BCPIO   BAGUIO CITY – The city government recorded 84 out 128 barangay are in minimum livable status, while 41 barangays were on moderately livability based on the intensive study of the livability index conducted by the City Planning Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) as part of the development of the Comprehensive Land Use Development Plan (CLUP) 2024- 2032.   Only barangay South Drive passed as a livable barangay, while Lower Dagsian and San Antonio Village showed a decrease in livability state. The CLUP describes the physical and economic development of the city for the next eight years. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that the livability index was created with the Barangay Digital Twin Project, to determine the current condition of the barangays. The data will guide the city government and the barangays themselves in deciding their development goals towards being livable, inclusive, creative, sustainable and resilient in compliance with the proposed new vision of the city.   Digital Twin provides digital representations of barangays based on the audit and mapping of their existing structures and remaining natural covers. CPDSO Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin said that the livability parameters used in the analysis of the barangays were localized based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Philippine Development Plan. The indicators used were set by urban planners and experts who collaborated with the city government in the creation of the CLUP. These are: Healthy areas (based on proximity to the district health centre, community hand washing stations, liquid waste management, solid waste management and land ownership); In food sources (urban food/survival gardens, satellite markets, good preparation enterprises); Safety and Security from Crime (crime rate, roadblocks, response time to emergency events); Economic Opportunities (livelihood projects, financial empowerment projects, MSME support services, electricity connection, internet connection)   Accessibility (type of access to barangay and internal communities, ramps on sidewalks and public building entrances, pedestrian paths, sheltered public utility jeepney waiting area, accessibility of residences; Mobility options (close to school or barangay hall, with off-street pick-up and dropoff points, connected sidewalks and traffic accidents; Availability of essential retail and services (MSMEs for essentials); Safety and Security from Hazards (climate and seismic hazard assessment, floods, landslides and sinkholes, building safety, evacuation areas and fire response time); Areas and Interaction with the Community (open space to built-up ratio, proximity to open/green spaces, parks and playgrounds, library, culture and creative facilities, outdoor sports and recreation, community civic/social activities;   Clean Water Supply (connection to water supply, water quality in rivers and streams, rainwater harvesting facilities, uncontaminated waterways) and Good Governance (financial management, business development, community involvement and transparency and accountability).

By Aileen P. Refuerzo Baguio PIO   BAGUIO CITY — A study on the livability of the city’s 128 barangays has shown that only one remains to be livable, two with declining status and the rest moderately livable. The barangay livability index was put together through an intensive study conducted by the city government through the City Planning Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) and partners from the private sector as part of the crafting of the Comprehensive Land Use Development Plan (CLUP) 2024-2032 which charts the city’s physical and economic development for the next eight years. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the study was done alongside the Barangay Digital Twin Project, which for its part provides digital representations of the barangays based on audit and mapping of their existing structures and remaining natural covers. Both aimed to determine the current status of the barangays to serve as guide for the city government and the barangays themselves in deciding their development thrusts towards becoming livable, inclusive, creative, sustainable and resilient. The liveability index presented during a townhall meeting held June 4, 2024 showed that only South Drive barangay made the cut as a livable barangay. Lower Dagsian and San Antonio Village manifested declining livability while 41 were found to be moderately livable and the remaining 84 were of minimum livability compliance. CPDSO Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin said the livability parameters used in examining the barangays were localized based on Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Philippine Development Plan. The indicators used were set by urban planners and experts who have been cooperating with the city government in the crafting of the CLUP. These are: Healthy place (based on proximity to a district health center, communal hand washing stations, liquid waste management, solid waste management and land ownership); With food sources (urban food/survival gardens, satellite markets, good preparation enterprise); Safety and Security from Crime (crime rate, anti-road obstruction, response time to emergency events; Accessibility (access type to barangay and interior communities, ramps on sidewalks and public building entrances, pedestrian lanes, sheltered public utility jeepney waiting areas, accessibility of dwellings; Mobility choices (proximity to school or barangay hall, with off-street pick-up and dropoff points, connected sidewalks and traffic accidents; Presence of essential retail and services; Safety and Security from Hazards (climate and disaster risk assessment on seismic, flood, landslide and sinkholes, building safety, evacuation area and fire response time); Community Spaces and Engagement (open space to built-up ratio, proximity to open/green spaces, parks and playgrounds, library, culture and creative facility, outdoor sports and recreation, community civic/social activities. Clean Water Supply (connection to water supply, water quality in rivers and creeks, rainwater harvesting facility, unoccupied waterway easements) and Good Governance (financial management, enterprise development, community involvement and transparency and accountability). The livability index is part of the CLUP of the city which was approved recently by the City Development Council and will soon be submitted for approval by the Regional Land Use Committee and the city council.

The city government of Baguio celebrated the 126th Indepence Day celebration at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. City Employees and other line agencies wherein Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and Mrs. Soledad Go representing Congressman Marquez Go delivered their Indepence Day Messages. Photos by Neil Clark Ongchangco

Indigenous peoples (IPs) residing within the Camp John Hay (CJH) Forest Reservation are up in arms against the imposed administrative fines on their structures with no building permits. Joselito Shontogan, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Loakan-Liwanag Barangay, brought to the attention of the Baguio City Council on June 3, 2024, that residential houses undergoing repairs in Loakan-Liwanag, Loakan Proper, and Camp 7 barangays had received notices of violation from the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO). Additionally, they were instructed to pay an administrative fine of P10,000.00 for breaching Section 301 of the National Building Code. Loakan-Liwanag, Loakan Proper, and Camp 7 are three among the 13 barangays being eyed for segregation. Aligned with the 19 conditions imposed for the development of the John Hay Special Economic Zone, the city government has been actively working for decades to achieve a commitment from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) concerning the segregation of the 13 barangays within the reservation. According to records of the CBAO, there have been 34 notices of violation issued across the 13 barangays in response to complaints from the CJH management. These violations are distributed as follows: four in Lucnab, 11 in Loakan-Liwanag, one in Upper Dagsian, 11 in Happy Hallow, one in Green Water, two in Camp 7, five in Country Club, and one in Scout Barrio. Shontogan mentioned that residents were also ordered to obtain building permits, further complicating matters as they are unable to establish legal ownership over their properties amid the ongoing land dispute between the IPs in the 13 barangays and the BCDA. Shontogan appealed to the city council for immediate intervention. He sought assurance that they could proceed with repairing their structures without the threat of demolition, thus avoiding potential displacement. In response to the appeal, the Baguio City Council requested a status quo from CBAO and the CJH management. The body sought the suspension of the imposition of administrative fines until jurisdictional matters are clarified. The city council further mandated Baguio IPMR Maximo Hilario Edwin Jr. to assist affected residents in negotiating the issue with proper government agencies. In a phone interview, Donald Gas-ib, head of the CBAO Investigation and Demolition Division, said dialogues with the CJH management and the affected residents along with their respective barangay officials had been set to thresh matters out. Gas-ib said the issuance of notices of violation was a response to the complaints filed by the CJH management before their office. While he understands the sentiments of the affected residents, he said it is the mandate of their office to act on complaints regarding construction of structures without building permits. He expressed hope that the issue would be resolved through diplomatic dialogues. -Jordan G. Habbiling

Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. l has proposed an amnesty granted to applicants seeking electric and water connections in the city for a period of six months. The amnesty aims to facilitate access to these basic utilities for residents who may have missed previous amnesty periods due to limited time and additional requirements. It intends to ensure that more residents can obtain the necessary connections to electricity and water, thereby improving their living conditions and access to essential services. By facilitating access to electricity and water, the proposed measure will help improve the living conditions of residents, leading to better health, hygiene, and overall quality of life. Those who were unable to meet the requirements or deadlines in previous amnesty periods are often from marginalized or low-income groups. The amnesty seeks to provide them with another opportunity to secure essential services. Yangot said offering amnesty can encourage residents who may have been using illegal connections to regularize their access, thus improving the safety and reliability of utility services in the community. The proposed measure has been approved on first reading and referred to the city council’s Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation, and Traffic Legislation for review. Similar ordinances were enacted by the City Council in the past, with the latest being on April 25, 2016 and December 12, 2016. -Jordan G. Habbiling