Baguio to work with business sector for fortify new normal economic recovery plan
The business sector will play a key role in fortifying the city’s economic recovery plan for the new normal.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said involving businesses in charting the city’s economic prospects is important because they are the “engine toward recovery” and it is the obligation of the city government to “create an enabling environment” for them.
“We will engage them and ask them what they need from the city government to create an enabling environment. This will make sure that their and our visions and plans are all aligned,” he said.
The mayor said the city’s recovery and resiliency plan conceptualized in the early stages of the pandemic guides the city in balancing it way between health and economy following the “hammer and dance” principle.
To continue the transition to the new normal phase, he said the city will continue to seek ways to balance by strengthening health protocols while opening more businesses in a calibrated way.
The mayor said this year, the recovery thrust is also focused on the implementation of various strategic projects which he said are expected to generate thousands of employment and catalyze the economic revival.
“Kailangan mabilis ang action pagdating sa economic recovery,” he said.
“We might take off by March so we have to be ready with our activities like the Baguio Flower Festival, PMA alumni homecoming and others which although low key should also be made enticing,” the mayor added.
The mayor earlier expressed confidence that 2022 will be a banner year for the city to showcase its recovery from the health crisis.
He said the city is set to implement the following priority development projects that it had worked on in the last three years:
The sports complex at the Baguio Athletic Bowl which includes the rehabilitation of tennis court, outdoor archery range, swimming pool bleachers and office building, comfort rooms, coffee shop and storage areas and mini-conference room; construction of athletes’ quarters and isolation facility and outdoor facilities for wall climbing and skate park;
Development of Wright Park, Bayan Park; Eco-Park development and multi-level greenhouse at Botanical Garden; Green Walks projects and sidewalk rehabilitation; digital transformation center; second phase arboretum; Irisan barangay hall; rehabilitation of City Hall multi-purpose hall and gym.
Lined up under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) are the city market development; intermodal transport facility; development of abattoir with cold storage facility; Mines View Park glass walk; cable car and elevated monorail; smart city mobility system.
One priority project being worked out is the sewerage system rehabilitation scheduled for bidding this year. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
