Baguio Insider

Resty Refuerzo called our attention in his comment in Should We Allow These Trees to Disappear saying:

Some Baguio folk claim that the mayor is young (”Bata pa kasi”) whenever they want to forgive him or make excuses for his words and actions. But honestly, at 38 or 39, the Mayor can no longer be called “young.” Many people have ruled empires at that age.

What you could call him instead is IMMATURE, and PETULANT, especially as far his recent comments on this issue of allowing Henry Sy and SM take over the GSIS lot beside the Baguio Convention Center (filled with hundreds of pine trees) is concerned. By blaming the citizenry instead opposing any sort of ‘development’ that will actually deprive the Baguio residents and visitors of clean air, natural beauty and a very valuable spot of green.

Bautista IS blaming the Baguio citizenry, if the report by Sunstar Baguio is to be believed. His words:

“Do not panic. It’s just a plan.”

Of course the people will panic, Mr. Mayor! GSIS and SM Prime Holdings already announced that they had a joint venture agreement. The people panic because THERE IS THAT PLAN. In fact the plan already identifies the number of trees to be felled. It already lays out how high the building will be, what it is going to be used for.

What do you want the people to do? Start panicking when the plan is approved and the permits issued?

Because if we do not express our feelings in the strongest possible terms, you people will think you can sneak the ‘development’ in. You will be entering into contracts giving Henry Sy control over the Baguio Convention Center even, if rumors are to be believed.

We panic because you refuse to pay GSIS even the 35M due on the property, and yet you can afford to spend 400M on Burnham Park. In fact, the ’savings’ of 20M that you people were trying to get for yourselves for your ‘car plan,’ could have been used to pay in part for the Baguio Convention Center arrears.

“Before this issue no one cared”

Ah, Peter Rey, before this issue THERE WAS NO ISSUE! Everybody loved the fact that there are so many trees there. In fact many of us saw them grow from the time they were small in the past few decades.

Why should you then blame the Baguio folk for expressing their feelings (which is by the way our right and obligation) about the development of this property?

Who has created the issue — you guys! Either because you were part of the plan or because you are not fighting for the best interests of your constituency.

In fact, I would go as far as saying, by refusing to oppose this plan in the first place, by accepting that hundreds of trees will be felled, you are actually part of the problem!

Let there be no issue then, Peter Rey — SAY NO TO THIS PLAN! Better yet, Baguio City should purchase it from GSIS.

“Visit it one day, pick the trash and beautify it”

Now I’m really at a loss for words!

I am showing you these recent photos taken last April — where’s the trash?

Is this property a public park? Not yet, because the city has made no moves to buy it, or develop it as a green park.

It is private property of GSIS — which is a government corporation, which is in turn, owned by the Philippines, which is in turn owned by the Filipinos.

The property is fenced off and gated. Technically it is private property, notwithstanding the fact that Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr., chairman of the City Council committee on lands, housing, and urban planning, has determined that a portion of the GSIS property overlaps with Original Certificate of Title (OCT) 1, named under the Republic of the Philippines.

So you want the people to trespass? You want the squatters you politicians coddle to set up shanties and carinderias there? What do you have against idle land filled with beautiful pine trees?

Honestly, what Resty calls ‘blaming mode’ is so typical of politicians whose insidious plans are exposed and opposed by their constituents — to try and turn the tables around and blame the poor folk for the woes that you are planning to foist upon them.

I remember that once, now Congressman Mauricio Domogan was asked by the students, very earnestly, why the Baguio roads are constantly being dug up for water pipes, for repairs, for widening, for drainage and for many various excuses.

Because he could not justify the lack of planning and coordination (or can we call them it kickback opportunities?) of the government, he blamed the Baguio folk for this irregularity, waste and redundancy in the infrastructure development projects of the government. He turned the tables around on the people and blamed them, saying that because they do not pay their taxes, the different government agencies are unable to coordinate the development and repair of the roads.

“Because of neglect, many trees died there”

Finally, the news report notes that during a radio interview, Mayor Peter Rey Bautista said that many trees have died on that property.

Well, Mr. Mayor, in case you never learned this in school or via experience in all the 4 decades of your life — trees do die. Even in my own property, pine trees die a natural death. They just suddenly turn white and lose their leaves. In fact, when you plant 10 pine seedlings, a majority of them will not survive.

Now the Baguio people are letting you know that you are asking too much when you want the people to agree for you guys — the politicians and the greedy businessmen — to MURDER the trees. For what? For money in your pockets? For your version of the beautification of Baguio?

No building in Baguio is more beautiful than a pine tree.

And may I ask you now, Mr. Mayor, do you even have actual data for the number of trees that have actually died there — or were you just lying, bluffing to save your political behind?

Honestly, Peter Rey, if you do not want this kind of beauty for Baguio, maybe you should rethink being mayor — you’re doing the city a great disservice by even coming out with statements like these!

At the very least, we are rethinking you.

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