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Baguio City's Traffic has time and time again proved to be one of the few detriments that the area has to offer with rising urbanization; hopefully with the goal of being a Smart City, they'll be able to take things under control!

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Baguio City's Traffic has time and time again proved to be one of the few detriments that the area has to offer with rising urbanization; hopefully with the goal of being a Smart City, they'll be able to take things under control!

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Start Ups from STEPUP - DOST Backed Enterprises Receive Improvements for their Technology and Services

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Start Ups from STEPUP - DOST Backed Enterprises Receive Improvements for their Technology and Services

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The Department of Science and Technology’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, otherwise known as SETUP, has chosen 8 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises from Baguio-Benguet to receive official backing for their own products and services, further improving the industries' quality and overall workforce.

The 8 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, often shortened to MSMEs, are integral parts for the businesses of both Baguio and the Philippines itself, as the local backing of the DOST will surely assist them in gaining more renown for their works. As stated by the Regional Director for Cordillera, Nancy Bantog, “Our country recognizes the critical role of MSMEs in nation building. In 2019, of the total 1,000,506 business enterprises in the country, 99.5% are MSME." Further indicating the importance of being able to assist and further develop one's own economic standing so that it may be able to stand on it's own without reliance from other allied nations, and the SETUP project of the DOST aims to continuously improve the different businesses that the country has to offer, no matter how micro, small, or medium they may be.

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Panagbenga Festival is a month-long annual flower occasion in Baguio. This festival is usually held in February, this was created as a tribute to the city's flowers and as a way to rise from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake

The festival features parades such as the Grand Float Parade, where they would present various designs of floats that are composed mainly of the vibrant flowers the city is known for, and the Grand Street Parade. This event features a marching band and dance competition between the city’s various elementary schools.

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Canao is considered as a sacred ritual of the Kankanaey people, done during feasts or celebrations in the highlands of the Cordillera. It is a giant celebration in which natives sacrifice, pigs, chickens, and carabaos. This celebration represents the Igorot essence of thanksgiving because everyone gathers in an ancient dance. The dance is done in unison with the sounds of the gongs played by men performed mostly during occasions.

There are studies where it is said that Benguet people believe in the existence of unseen beings that originated from the sky world and the underworld. They say that these unsees beings are described as spirits that are thought to have power over man. But they also believe that spirits can be influenced by man as well. Through that, the people struggle to win the favor of the spirits with the use of prayers and material offerings in a ritual.

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It is well known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” and “City of Pines”

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It is well known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” and “City of Pines”

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The city of Baguio is the only chartered city in Cordillera Administrative Region. It is well known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” and “City of Pines” due to its cold climate and famous pine trees. The city is located approximately 4,810 feet (1,470 meters) above mean sea level, it is the best place to go to if you want to take a break from the tropical heat in the in the Philippines.

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SDG #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities of Baguio

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SDG #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities of Baguio

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Baguio City is considered to be one of the fastest-growing urban places in the Philippines. Based on Macrotrends, Baguio City’s current metro area population is now 385,000. It is a 1.58% increase from 2021, as you can see the population of the city is constantly increasing. Due to the attractiveness of the weather and overbuilding, the city is currently experiencing severe overpopulation and congestion problems which are, unfortunately, leading to serious degradation of the environment and quality of life. The city has been experiencing some problems because of an increase in migration, people perceive the city to have a stable economy that can help them find a sustainable livelihood.

The city is now suffering from poor air quality, garbage woes, polluted rivers, traffic congestion, and the proliferation of informal settlers and illegal structures. The National Economic Development Authority Cordillera (NEDA-CAR) started to conduct a study about this and they have indicated that the most critical urban carrying capacity indicators that are needed to be considered in Baguio City are road length and area, urban land for construction, water supply, liquid waste treatment capacity, forest cover, and solid waste collection.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has stated that the city needs to take drastic measures to be able to create change in the city. Especially with air pollution, which in the year 2014 the city was placed at the top of the list of the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on Ambient Air Pollution and was said to be the most polluted air in the Philippines.

Officials are still working their way up into improving the city’s state, Cimatu has discussed the rehabilitation of Balili and Bued rivers and the conversion of the Irisan dumpsite into an ‘Environmental-Friendly Eco-Park.’ He has also ordered to conduct a research on the ecosystems of the city. The purpose of this study was to extend the life of the Benguet pine tree species. The Benguet Pine Tree plays a significant role in keeping areas of the city safe, it stabilizes the soil to avoid soil erosions in the city, which is very important because the city always tends to have more rainy days than sunny ones. Those trees are also big contributors to reducing pollution and creating more breathable air for people.

Baguio City has gone through many challenges and they have a very well-informed constituency, with diverse experiences and expertise, those little changes may be good for the city but they have to follow a goal that could help direct the city to a better and cleaner place. The local government needs to enforce rules and policies that could promote the improvement of the city. If they continue to follow through with their plans for the city then we might be able to see some improvement in the city sooner than they initially planned.

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Image taken by the Philippine Native Pig Conservation Program

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Considered sacred and delicious, the Benguet Native Pigs are used for a Flower Festival in the Cordillera region known as the Panagbenga!

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Considered sacred and delicious, the Benguet Native Pigs are used for a Flower Festival in the Cordillera region known as the Panagbenga!

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Back in the early months of the pandemic, the Baguio City government had aspired to meet the immediate needs of their citizens, as well as aimed to recognize and address the other issues that plagued their city. With this in mind, Baguio City had aimed to become the first ‘Smart City’ in the country, as early as the year 2020. Essentially, a Smart City is any local area that utilizes information and communication technology, otherwise known as ICT, to improve their operational efficiency, and any other aspect that may fall under both their technological and holistic development.

Technological advancements can improve public services and governance, and with this in mind, a Smart City needs to be able to collect data and use insights to manage resources, assets, and services effectively. The previously envisioned Integrated Command and Control Center of Baguio City finally came to fruition and combined the functions of a coordination office and a monitoring center for Baguio City. An integrated team from the CDRRMO, Police, Fire Services, Health, and EMS Departments will run it, and with these offices assisting the governance of their area, Baguio City will eventually be able to closely monitor and respond to community issues, enhancing peace, order, and safety for its residents.

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Every season is pleasant in Baguio, with the wet season being cloudy and the dry season only being partly cloudy. The average annual temperature ranges from 56 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, rarely falling below 52 or rising above 78.

The greatest time of year to visit Baguio for warm-weather activities, according to the tourist score, is from late January to late April.

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https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298445-d1822706-Reviews-Burnham_Park-Baguio_Benguet_Province_Cordillera_Region_Luzon.html

https://www.yummy.ph/news-trends/baguio-online-grocery-a00260-20190123

https://cs.upb.edu.ph/committee/native-plants

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/02/historic-kennon-road-now-open-for-motorists/

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/11/9/Baguio-mayor-shuts-down-Igorot-Stone-Kingdom-.html

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1183464

https://baguiodirectory.net/reside-baguio-city/

https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/91194/baguio-city-igorot-stone-kingdom-ordered-closed-a4833-20221110

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347706738_The_Bright_Side_of_Dark_Tourism_in_Baguio_City_Understanding_its_Impact_to_the_Stakeholders#:~:text=Dark%20Tourism%20in%20Baguio%20City%20has%20been%20gaining%20a%20lot,the%20shadowed%20past%20behind%20it.

https://opengovasia.com/baguio-aiming-to-be-the-first-smart-city-in-the-philippines/

https://baguioheraldexpressonline.com/baguios-smart-city-command-center-inaugurated/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baguios-smart-city-command-center-inaugurated

https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-a-smart-city

https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/cordillera-native-black-pig/

https://baguioheraldexpressonline.com/dealing-with-baguios-problems/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/baguio-city-population

https://psa.gov.ph/press-releases/id/43751

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1820989/baguio/feature/studying-baguios-carrying-capacity-for-future-planning

https://erdb.denr.gov.ph/baguio-citys-first-environmental-summit-for-kids-held/

https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press-releases/1437-denr-identifies-areas-of-concern-in-baguio-rehab

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1644602/students-urged-to-help-reverse-baguio-urban-decay

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086853/baguio-city-groans-from-too-many-visitors

https://pia.gov.ph/news/2022/02/23/population-growth-rate-in-car-slow-in-the-past-5-yrsz

https://www.denr.gov.ph/index.php/news-events/press-releases/1437-denr-identifies-areas-of-concern-in-baguio-rehab

https://www.globalgoals.org/goals/11-sustainable-cities-and-communities/

https://pia.gov.ph/news/2022/02/04/8-baguiobenguet-msmes-get-technology-boost-from-dost

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Construction of the road began with the survey done by the Philippine Commission in order to find the most advantageous route for a railway into the mountains of Benguet. Their report to the U.S. president reflected how the Benguet region can be of value as a sanitarium and a site fit for a military post.

It used to be called Benguet Road before it was named after Col. Lyman W. Kennon who inherited the project from two consecutive leads in 1903. He succeeded in leading 4000 men of 46 nationalities in constructing the road that eventually led to Baguio and the other parts of Benguet.

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Strawberries are a Baguio man's best friend; the red fruit is a staple in the city's food and tourism!

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Strawberries are a Baguio man's best friend; the red fruit is a staple in the city's food and tourism!

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𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢, commonly known as Benguet pine, is one of the only 2 pine species native to the Philippines, the other being 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘪 (Mindoro pine). In contrast to 𝘗. 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘪 which has only 2 needles in each bundle, 𝘗. 𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 has 3 needles, several fascicles of which are clustered at the ends of its twigs. A few years ago, populations of 𝘗. 𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘺𝘢 in Baguio City has been markedly affected by 7 species of bark beetles (Parao et al., 2019).

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Burnham Park truly is the very heart of Baguio City. With an area of 32.84 hectares its central location makes it the most valuable piece of Baguio real estate. The 'mother of all parks' in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, almost as familiar to Filipinos as Luneta Park in Manila is, all other developments like the city's business center Session Road, Baguio Cathedral, City Hall, and the hugely popular Baguio City Market were built around Burnham Park. It may be accessed from any one of the following roads: Harrison, Kisad Road, Governor Pack and Magsaysay Roads.

Designed by and named after premier American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham, who also designed the original plan for Baguio City. Burnham Park remains, to this day, one of the Philippines' most well-known and best-loved parks. The park retains much of Daniel Burnham's original design and layout a century ago, with a few features added, in true Filipino fashion, to make it a vibrant center of activity for everyone to enjoy.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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SDG #9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure of Baguio

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SDG #9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure of Baguio

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Recently, one of the newest Baguio tourist attractions, the Igorot Stone Kingdom, had been shut down due to a lack of a proper business building permit, putting the attraction’s safety into question. Baguio City Mayor, Benjie Magalong, stated that he couldn’t run the risk of an accident happening over their heads, so he ordered for the temporary closure until the integrity of the Stone Kingdom’s structure is verified. Under better scrutinization and observation, the dangers of the Igorot Stone Kingdom have also stemmed from the risk of landslides, erosions, and possible weaknesses to earthquakes, as the manmade structure hasn’t been examined properly regarding it’s strength against natural hazards such as these. In turn, this also opens up the discussion of Baguio City’s own lack of concern regarding such natural causes, failing to properly meet with the goals set up by SDG #9, concerning Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

Baguio City is situated high up in the Cordillera Central Mountain Range of Luzon, and is both situated in and around similar mountainous terrains. Despite it’s high position, it doesn’t make the area any less prone to typhoons; in fact, from it’s location it is actually one of the more prone areas to typhoon related natural disasters, such as flooding, degradation of crops, and landslides. In fact, one of the most unfortunate taglines of disasters such as these in relation with the city is 'Dark Tourism', wherein the accidents that have happened in the area are also promoted towards those with a more macabre interest in things. With Baguio constantly trying to catch up to the increasing number of people that wish to stay there, both as tourists and as residents, they struggle to make enough buildings in the city alone to house the high number of people that visit. However, as evident by a recent inspection of the City’s government, more often than not the houses are not able to match up to the proper safety and integrity that houses should usually have, with a prime example being a recent discovery of over 15 boarding houses lacking in not only structural integrity, but also in other related areas of concern such as a lack of efficient emergency exits, cramped living quarters, improper drainage systems, and general dilapidated facilities. Another issue regarding SDG #9 is how due to their overreliance on tourism, they are constantly trying to find new ways to bring in tourists for them to earn a profit, but in doing so they have also started to stagnate in the actual maintenance of their city.

To rectify this, what Baguio can do is instead of focusing on the constant rise in population, is to instead focus on the maintenance of their already existing infrastructures instead. Both their residentials and their business based buildings have started to see a decline, and in order to maintain it’s image of an ideal tourist attraction, they should also be able to maintain the businesses and areas they already have.