Once a picturesque mountain retreat, the city of Baguio now faces the challenges of rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and unsustainable development.
Last September 12, 2024, a roundtable discussion titled “TAN-AW: Our Vision of Baguio” brought together various stakeholders to explore how the city can transition to a more sustainable future.
Organized by the Partners for Indigenous Knowledge Philippines (PIKP), the UP Baguio Program for Indigenous Cultures (PIC), UP Baguio Committee on Culture and the Arts (CCA), Zero-Waste Baguio Inc., and Tongtongan ti Umili, TAN-AW brought together representatives of the Baguio City government, members of the academe, scientists, media practitioners, and various CSOs with a goal of identifying Baguio’s most pressing environmental, social, health, economic, and cultural issues, and consolidating possible solutions to address these problems.
Speakers at the event included Miss Joji Cariño of the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP), Architect Donna Tabangin (Head, City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office – CPDSO), PIKP’s very own Jill Cariño, Councilor Arthur Allad-Iw, Indigenous Women Educators awardee Vicky Macay, Miss Vicky Bautista of Zero Waste Baguio, Prof. Rizavel C. Addawe (UP Baguio Department of Mathematics and Computer Science), Miss Jay-Ann Tallad (UP Baguio Department of Biology), Miss Hilda Wayas (MS Conservation and Restoration Ecology, UP Baguio), Miss Corazon Loste of the Loakan-Apugan Sustainable Livelihoods Association, Mr Amian Tauli (PIKP), Miss Ma Cleo Cuya (Cordilleran Youth Center), and Mx Jeoff Larua of Tongtongan ti Umili.
Baguio and the New Urban Agenda
The New Urban Agenda, a framework developed by the United Nations, advocates for sustainable cities that prioritize inclusivity, resilience, and environmental protection. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aligns with this by promoting the preservation and restoration of ecosystems.
The question arises: How does Baguio City fit into this vision of a sustainable urban future?
Historically, Baguio was designed to accommodate a limited population, but its resident population has grown to nearly 400,000, with an annual influx of around 1.3 million tourists. This sharp increase in the number of people in the city continues to strain Baguio resources and infrastructure. The current state of affairs inevitably makes it difficult for the city to align itself with global sustainability goals.
Issues like overcrowding, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, overdevelopment, and waste management reflect a city that is struggling to cope with its growth, and without proper intervention, these challenges will only worsen.
Is there still space for nature in Baguio?
One of the most urgent questions raised during the TAN-AW discussion is whether Baguio still has room for nature. The city’s rapid, uncontrolled development has come at the expense of its green spaces.
Deforestation, overbuilding, and land conversion have led to shrinking forested areas and the degradation of vital watersheds. The once lush and vibrant city has been losing its natural beauty to urban sprawl.
Still, nature is not entirely lost in Baguio. Initiatives such as the preservation and maintenance (however difficult) of green spaces like Burnham Park and critical resources like the Busol Watershed show that there’s still hope for protecting what remains. But the city’s future as a sustainable urban space will depend on balancing development with the restoration and conservation of its natural environment.
Regeneration vs. sustainability
A key theme of the roundtable discussion is the difference between sustainability and regeneration.
Sustainability focuses on maintaining balance by minimizing further harm to the environment, while regeneration takes it a step further, aiming to repair and restore ecosystems that have already been damaged. For Baguio, which has experienced decades of environmental decline, regeneration may be the more appropriate approach.
Regenerative cities around the world, such as Curitiba in Brazil and Copenhagen in Denmark, offer valuable lessons for Baguio. These cities prioritize green infrastructure, waste reduction, and low-carbon transportation.
What makes them regenerative is their commitment not just to sustainability, but to reversing environmental damage through innovative, long-term solutions. Baguio can follow this example by adopting regenerative practices, such as reforesting degraded areas, restoring watersheds, and investing in green infrastructure.
The impact of population and tourism numbers on Baguio’s sustainability goals
Baguio’s population and tourism numbers play a significant role in the city’s environmental challenges. The city’s carrying capacity—the ability to support people without degrading its environment—has been exceeded a long time ago. With so many residents and the steady influx of tourists each year, Baguio’s infrastructure is under immense pressure.
Tourism, while economically beneficial, also brings problems, such as more waste, water demand, and pollution. The volume of waste generated by tourists alone contributes to the city’s growing garbage disposal issues, and the surge in vehicular traffic worsens air pollution and congestion. Without stricter regulations on tourism and urban planning, Baguio risks further deterioration.
Urban decay by 2043 — a grim outlook without action
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), if Baguio continues with a “business as usual” approach, it will face inevitable urban decay by 2043. This prediction underscores the need for immediate action. The continuing degradation of Baguio’s natural environment will not only diminish its appeal as a tourist destination but also harm the quality of life for its residents.
This stark forecast should serve as a wake-up call for local policymakers, developers, and residents alike. Continuing to prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability will only lead to further environmental collapse. The city must pivot towards long-term, regenerative planning that puts the environment at the center of ALL development efforts.
Economics and sustainability — an incompatible marriage
One of the most significant challenges to achieving sustainability in Baguio is the prioritization of economic development.
Over the years, development projects have focused on maximizing revenue rather than protecting the environment. The construction of commercial spaces, roads, and other infrastructure — usually aimed at making the city more attractive to tourists and investors — has contributed to deforestation, habitat loss, and the overuse of resources.
The roundtable discussion highlights the fact that development driven purely by economic interests cannot coexist with sustainability. If the city continues to prioritize profit over the environment, the consequences will be severe.
Policymakers must find ways to reconcile development with sustainability, so that economic growth does not come at the expense of Baguio’s natural heritage.
The role of indigenous peoples in preserving the environment
Indigenous peoples in Baguio, especially the native Ibaloys, play a vital role in caring for the environment and preserving cultural heritage. Their traditional practices, such as sustainable agriculture and land stewardship, offer valuable lessons in environmental management. However, as the city has urbanized, the role and influence of indigenous peoples have been subject to marginalization, and their knowledge and practices have been overlooked.
The TAN-AW discussion emphasizes the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge into Baguio’s sustainability plans. By honoring and preserving indigenous practices, Baguio can adopt more sustainable ways of managing its natural resources. Indigenous peoples must be included in decision-making processes, ensuring that their voices are heard and their contributions recognized.
A call to action — shaping Baguio’s future
Baguio City stands at a crossroads. The decisions made today will determine whether the city thrives as a sustainable, regenerative urban space or continues down a destructive path of environmental degradation.
The TAN-AW roundtable discussion serves as a platform for critical reflection and can spark collective action. As the city grapples with its growing population, environmental challenges, and pressure from tourism, it must prioritize sustainability and regeneration.
While the discussions in TAN-AW offer hope, they also serve as a reminder that real change requires a close collaboration between the government, civil society, and the people of Baguio. The path to a sustainable future is not easy, but it is necessary if Baguio is to remain a livable, vital city for generations to come.
