Climate change, overpopulation issues can be resolved with integrated tack

BAGUIO CITY: Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay or BLIST should be taken as a complete unit to address over-population and map out the city’s plans to adapt to climate change.

Baguio City Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda suggested this in a press briefing over the weekend at the Ridgewood Residence here during the launching the “Asian Cities Adapt Project” – which brings together science and policy to address climate change issues.

She said that Baguio cannot do it alone as its neighbor BLISTT areas are also affected in any changes that happen or to be implemented in the Baguio.

“Baguio cannot work in isolation, We need the involvement of the adjoining areas to minimize the impact of climate change within the BLISTT area and work for a climate change mitigation and adaptation programs and policies that would be beneficial to all.

‘We, at the City Council, already have an initial talk on this we and also plan to ask Mayor Mauricio Domogan to bring or introduce the concept to the Regional Development Council (RDC),” Tabanda said.

For example, she said that some of the city’s environmental issues such as garbage, the Busol Watershed and the water flowing atthe Balili river down to La Trinidad, have collective effect not only to the city but also to the neighboring towns.

Tabanda also stressed the need to look at the issue of over-population in the city of Baguio emphasizing that the bearing or carrying capacity of the city in terms of population should really be determined.

“What can we ply out in terms of resources, then we take measures. For example, we need to re-examine whether the city would continue presenting itself as University City or should we allow or require now the dispersal of universities outside the city,” she said. –Thom F. Picaña, Manila Times