• NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
Baguio Chronicle
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Baguio Chronicle
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Verhungern – Heritage and legacy

Angel Castillo by Angel Castillo
July 28, 2022
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read
5
SHARES
18
VIEWS

THIS  week, there is a bit of interesting news in the form of a comeback act. Re-elected councilor Yangot is attempting a revival of his old shelved bill, which would declare any and all of the city’s trees heritage and therefore protected.

Let us divine.

First of all, let it be absolutely clear that I think the spirit of this ordinance is fantastic. Were it fully possible, it would be a grand thing, that each tree in this city will be left behind for future generations. To each child a tree, to each person the pines.

ADVERTISEMENT

Imagine the grandeur of a city truly robed in pine and foliage, where the natural harmonizes with the unnatural, a fusion of perfect ratios and proportions. 

Now that that’s out of the way, let us divine why that isn’t entirely the case.

The ordinance proposal is a well-meaning plan, but it is a second take. The original was penned and pushed in 2019 and shelved after questions and concerns raised were unable to be resolved.

I am no expert, but I can see why no matter how good in spirit this ordinance is, it will likely go through many changes before it gets implemented, if it gets there. 

The first issue is that there will always be a “need” to expand. The population has a way of steadily increasing, and as dense as Baguio is, the need will always be ever-present. More housing, more commercial space, more of everything will spring up.

This is why I believe that this ordinance is only one of the beginning steps in the war against urban decay. The war needs to be waged on multiple fronts, with many subsequent actions against it needed. 

Urban decay is not as simple as we stop cutting trees and it is solved. Urban decay is also a multi-pronged problem. It has to be reckoned with on all its different fronts. Economics, sociopolitics, culture, and so on – urban decay occurs in different places and affects many fields. 

Preventing the cutting of any trees whatsoever – save of course those that are blatant dangers to life and property – is only a stop-gap measure at best. To truly grapple with this issue, we have to go deep into the depths of the arcane art that is city planning and urban development.

There needs to be a comprehensive long-term plan to arrest urban decay. The use of our remaining land and natural resources must be of maximum value and structured in such a way that we are able to both preserve the environment and grow.

Some of our local politicians have the right idea (I believe, in my non-expert capacity) when they propose spreading out development to our neighbors. I, in my capacity, believe this is the right direction. Bring prosperity and opportunity to neighbors and allow for the city to breathe.

In the meantime, while they grapple with this and implement various measures to arrest urban decay, we need to come to grips with what heritage and legacy we want to leave to our children.

 

I do not have children of my own, nor a partner to have them with. But my brother is having a child soon, and I would very much like for her to grow up in a Baguio with trees, a city of pines with pines included.

And I’m sure many of you feel the same.

(Angel Castillo writes the bi-weekly column Verhungern as well as this informational bit in third person. For responses or thoughts, email the dedicated [email protected] email address.)

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

On Point – The anti-dengue war

Next Post

FACT CHECK: Ateneo gunman was supposed to be the new DOH Secretary #FactsFirstPH

Angel Castillo

Angel Castillo

Angel graduated with a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines Baguio. As somehow still the youngest on the team, he writes on mental health and well being, and the millennial’s point of view.

Related Posts

Green Minded – Making eating out sustainable in Baguio City

Cat vs capitalism

May 31, 2025
BROKEN NATIVE – October is not a festival for IPs but a clarion call

Manual vote count at precinct level; goons go online

May 31, 2025

EDITORIAL – Our litmus test

How lovely

Fake dynasty

Wrong notion

Latest Stories

Green Minded – Making eating out sustainable in Baguio City

Cat vs capitalism

May 31, 2025
BROKEN NATIVE – October is not a festival for IPs but a clarion call

Manual vote count at precinct level; goons go online

May 31, 2025
EDITORIAL – Our litmus test

EDITORIAL – Our litmus test

May 10, 2025

Baguio Chronicle

 

The Baguio Chronicle is the fastest- growing news publication in Northern Luzon today. It was established on December 6, 2009 in Baguio City.

© 2022 The Baguio Chronicle Website Design and Development by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
    • NATION
    • CORDILLERA
  • BUSINESS
  • GREEN
  • OPINION
    • EDITORIAL
  • FEATURE
  • FACT CHECK
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • LITERATURE
  • SPORTS
  • ADVERTORIALS
  • ABOUT US
    • CONTACT US