Bautista: No one cared before the issue came out
June 3, 2008 by lisa
Filed under government & politics
Resty Refuerzo called our attention in his comment in Should We Allow These Trees to Disappear saying:
Hi Lisa, read the following article and it seems the mayor is on a blaming mode again:
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.
We just...
Hi Lisa, Thank you for bringing this issue out, it’s only now that I can understand what is going on.
I’ve learned that we really have to watch what the elected officials are doing. It’s so easy for them to do whatever they want when they know nobody is watching them. Alot of things go undetected by the peoples’ radar.
Why do people think that land with Pine tress is a waste of opportunity to make money? Trees are necessary to purify the air polluted by the many vehicles in Baguio. Isn’t breathing clean air important?
Plano palang: Lahat ng proyekto sa plano nag-uumpisa?
Hi Tina,
Honestly, I am so tired at the way our politicians constantly insult the intelligence of the Baguio people.
Somehow, blogging is a wonderful tool for getting our feelings and thoughts on record. In the past, we had to wait for Midland to select our ‘Letters to the Editor’ for publication, and most would never get published.
That’s why, at the risk of sounding tiresome, I continue to use this medium still.
You did point out one thing I must underscore though, when you said” Why do people think that land with Pine tress is a waste of opportunity to make money?
Yup — that’s precisely how the Baguio government sees our parks, too. As if they own the land, as if the city is not in dire need of green!
I want to spread this news. I hope you don’t mind my copying this into my Baguio blog.
If the mayor is a sample of the youth being our leaders in the future, what hope is there? On the other hand, I’ve seen and heard the present administrator of Teacher’s Camp, Usec Malaya, so young and full of bright ideas. When they were planning for the rehabilitation of Teacher’s Camp, they brought in people from the Heritage Society for input.
Sure, Nick! See you at your blog!
Nah Resty, Peter Rey is more a sample of Baguio leadership — that provincial, secular kind of mindset. Less sophisticated even. Come on, Baguio mimics all that other cities has, fearing to create its own identity — I bet if we had wider roads, we’d have u-turn slots just for the sake of having them.
It’s a matter of heart! Young or old, it’s a matter of loving Baguio .
Look Lisa, Peter Rey is city-bred. Comes from a wealthy clan. So why does he have that kind of mindset? He may own the latest models of SUV’s, wear the most expensive brands of clothes, has gone abroad several times, etc. but thinks with a provincial and out-dated view not attuned with the times.
I’d rather have a simple man for a mayor but who is abreast with all the happenings in the world now.
Honestly, Resty, I believe rich has nothing to do with it. Greed has everything to do with it.
It is the generosity of spirit that makes a good leader, someone who has more concern for his city than for himself or his family business. Of course we need intelligence to match the selflessness. A lot of that comes with breeding, regardless of wealth.
In the end, it all boils down to “How much do you love God, the Philippines, Baguio and your fellowman (in that order)?” How much will one sacrifice for the sake of goodness?
What does the mayor want to do with baguio anyway, Make it into a buzzing metropolis. I think most baguio folks would agree to the small city look of baguio, fresh, clean, and most important of all green. Un naman talaga ang image ng baguio so why destroyit.
Hiya Bok,
I think he wants to turn Baguio into an extension of his campus at no cost to his family. Thus there is a thrust away from tourism, where all of us benefit and towards ‘education’ where his family benefits.
So if we cater to students, I suppose they believe Baguio does not have to be pretty.
This was kinda harse honestly. It’s just not right to think that the mayor is kinda stupid. I don’t think that Baguio will develop as a city if we limit ourselves to the “simple” life.
Hiya Jeane!
You call this development? I don’t know how old you are but I have seen Baguio splendidly simple, beautifully cool, clean and yet classy. And believe me, when Baguio is beautiful, the people all get rich.
Honey, chaos is not the twin of development. At this day and age of global warming, we build stuffy campuses all over the city? Or at this age of eco-tourism we cut down trees>
Now as far as the mayor’s blaming the Baguio residents as his excuse for his plans of handing over the forested lot beside the Convention Center, what can you call that?
i call it devious with a capital D!
Am browsing the web and found this very interesting topic and very timely at that when Baguio is being sold to developers instead of being developed by the city government to become the city we once knew.I came home for a visit during the easter season.Yes,I’m one of the millions of Flipinos who ekes out a living out of the country and although I’m not actually a resident of Baguio I love this city because I fnished my higher education at the good old SLU way back when,have lived in this city for quite sometime and my town is only anhours ride away from Baguio.It is sad to know that it’s as if the city is being offered to the developers for money without considering the longterm effect if such development will push thru.Baguio doesn’t need skyscrapers,what Baguio needs is more trees to hold together the soil as to avoid erosions which is prevalent occurence during rainy season.It’s not a rocket science for the city government not to understand why they should not sell the city’s few forests left.I hope Baguio residents will realise that its up for them to save the city from the greedy hands of developers whose only claim to developing the city is to desecrate the greenery in exchange for monetary gains,with the help of the city government?
We planted those trees when I was in Mabini Elementary. The reason then was for cleaner air. I think there is greater need for those trees now than before.