City bolsters greening efforts

In its continued push for urban forest management, the city government under Mayor Benjamin Magalong, strengthened its greening efforts not just through tree planting, but also in sustained care and stewardship.

“The city’s tree nursery produced over 20,000 seedlings, with a survival rate of 85% in targeted planting activities. More than 13,000 seedlings have been planted surpassing our 10,000-seedling goal. We improved two hectares of our canopy cover,” City Mayor’s Office chief-of-staff Samantha Jean Hamada said in her presentation of the State of Local Governance Report at the regular Executive-Legislative meeting, July 14, at City Hall.

In December 2024, the city was honored when its Model Tree Nursery Project, Tree Research Hub and Greenhouse Initiative, was recognized with the SubayBAYANI Award as one of the 10 Outstanding National Projects, she added.

“The Saleng Festival continues to be one of our flagship events bringing together communities, schools, and civic groups in a collective movement to promote tree stewardship,” Hamada said.

She said Baguio has successfully held 11 Ecological Waste Management and Sustainability Fairs, expanding public awareness and encouraging green practices across sectors and is supported by the City Council through Ordinance No. 15, Series of 2024.

“The city has made important strides in data-driven monitoring, international engagement, and sustainability innovation. The installation of Air Quality Monitoring Stations at Burnham Park, supported by roadside and voluntary sampling, has enabled us to consistently track and maintain air quality within safe levels,” Hamada explained.

She disclosed that Baguio was recognized as one of the 59 finalists out of 350 cities worldwide in the World-Wide Fund for Nature’s One Planet City Challenge Awards in Jakarta in December 2024 for its commitment to low carbon footprint and efforts towards sustainability. The city also placed 5th in Southeast Asia in the 2024 Mid-Year Pollution Index for cleanest cities.

“Currently, the city is actively implementing Project TRANSFORM, a science and data-driven project that integrates strategies for climate resilience, inclusive development, and ecosystem protection into our city’s planning frameworks,” Hamada said. – Gaby B. Keith