AS part of a bid to compete in the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) to secure support and guidance for its environmental project, Baguio City has revealed three initiatives it is attempting to push as part of the friendly competition.
City Planning and Development Officer (CPDO) Donna Rillera-Tabangin said, participating in the OPCC and achieving a high position as finalist will grant the city access to recognition, feedback on its climate action plan, as well as guidance and inclusion to WWF programs on capacity, urban nature-based programs, and solution to issues of transport, waste, food and environment.
To vie for a high position in the OPCC, the city has put forth three environment-based initiatives it is attempting to implement.
The first is the 30 by 2025 initiative, which aims to recover and preserve 30 percent of the city’s land area as open space, green space, and safeguarded land, conduct identification and management, and develop an action plan for the recovery and preservation of said lands.
The second is the Eco-Squared initiative, which is the updating and finalizing of the city’s comprehensive land use, zoning and development plans to balance economic development and ecological preservation and growth in accordance with the city’s carrying capacity.
The third initiative is the Micro Baguio project, where the city is looking into low carbon modes of transport, pedestrianization, and cyclist-friendly zoning to promote low-emission travel in the city.
Philippine cities Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, Makati, Pasig, Quezon City, Tagum, Zamboanga, San Carlos, Santa Rosa, Legazpi, Ormoc, San Fernando, Vigan and Baguio City are participating in the OPCC this year.
