It’s 2025. Let’s start the year by saying some cold, hard truths.
Baguio City’s recognition late last year as a leader in sustainable development, placing second in the 3rd CityNet-UNESCAP City Awards for SDG, has been a source of pride. The accolade, earned for the city’s pioneering use of digital technology in urban planning, highlights Baguio’s potential to set an example in sustainability. But beneath the glitter of international recognition lies a question we must all confront: What kind of city does Baguio truly aspire to be?
Is it a sustainable city where residents and tourists coexist harmoniously with nature? Or is it an overdeveloped economic hub driven by short-term profits, often at the expense of the environment and its residents? This seeming “identity crisis” in city governance points to a troubling contradiction between lofty sustainability goals and on-the-ground decisions that appear to prioritize economic gains.
The city’s recent international achievement has been hailed as a testament to its continuing commitment to sustainability; however, the reality on the ground tells a more complicated story.
Originally designed to accommodate only 25,000 people, Baguio now grapples with nearly 400,000 residents and an annual influx of around 1.3 million tourists. This unmanageable growth has led to environmental degradation, strained infrastructure, and worsening living conditions.
The National Economic and Development Authority has warned that Baguio will face inevitable urban decay by 2043 if it continues its current trajectory. This stark projection serves as a wake-up call for city officials and residents alike. Urban decay will not only diminish Baguio’s charm as a tourist destination but will also harm the quality of life for its residents, many of whom are already feeling the effects of overdevelopment.
Sustainability is not just about designating green spaces, planting trees, or winning awards. It requires political will. It’s about making hard decisions that balance economic interests with the need to protect the environment. The city’s current strategy leans too heavily on revenue generation, often at the cost of long-term environmental resilience.
City officials must decide whether they want Baguio to be a short-lived economic powerhouse or a sustainable city for future generations. Achieving true sustainability will require more than innovative urban programs; it will demand a fundamental shift in priorities.
For starters, the local government should reassess its reliance on mass tourism as a primary economic driver. Encouraging high-value, low-impact tourism could reduce strain on the city’s resources while still providing economic benefits. Improving public transportation efficiency, further enhancing the city’s walkability (this includes useful proper sidewalks not occupied by vehicles at times), limiting the entry or use of private vehicles, and investing in green infrastructure can help address traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Moreover, policies to limit overdevelopment, protect remaining green spaces, and enforce stricter building regulations must be implemented immediately. The government needs to engage residents and businesses in sustainability efforts, so everyone has a stake in Baguio’s future.
Baguio’s recognition for its sustainability efforts is commendable, but the city must prove it can practice what it preaches. The time for half-measures and contradictions is over. To preserve its identity as the City of Pines, Baguio must fully commit to long-term sustainability, even when it means making difficult economic sacrifices.
If the city fails to embrace this reality, its “business as usual” approach will turn its identity crisis into an existential one.
