With its fresh air, chilly temperatures and pine-dominated landscapes, Baguio City became a premier tourist destination in the Philippines. However, these features only conceal the harsh reality that the summer capital is gradually deteriorating and will most likely face urban decay in the following years.
The City of Pines is headed for "irreversible urban decay" by 2043, a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) study revealed in 2019. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong defined urban decay as "a process in which a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and disuse" and presented more than 50 projects to prevent the issue from further pestering the city and its inhabitants.
An overcrowded mountain
One of the symptoms of urban decay is when a city is no longer livable. The NEDA study showed that the city has long breached the threshold for its environmental carrying capacity. This translates to the city’s many resources—potable water, roads, forests and development areas—being no longer sufficient for Baguio’s population, which grew to 385,000 last year.
Usually, a city's economy will flourish as more people move there. The City of Baguio has been unstoppable in its efforts to restore its economic growth, which didn't go in vain as the city saw an increase of 9.9% in 2021 from a drop of -17.1% in 2020. It’s good, but not for the environment. And with this increase comes a decrease in the quality of life here in Baguio City.
To give a few examples of how urban decay negatively affects our daily lives: when locals would rather walk to work or school to avoid the traffic jam as the narrow road is packed with tourists and their cars, which significantly worsen air pollution; or when locals worry about their limited water supplies because two of the six watersheds were lost due to the influx of illegal settlers. Also, the overpumping of private deep well companies is draining the two remaining watersheds, and on top of these, the city is susceptible to earthquakes, landslides and flooding.
It is frustrating that with all the information provided to us by experts, the population in the city is still growing and is estimated to hit close to half a million by the end of the year. However, we should recognize that any measures aimed at controlling the city's population growth rate would be challenging given the city's functional duties as a popular tourist destination and a hub for education and trade. We can't just cut off one of the city's key sources of income when it's still recovering from the pandemic's losses.
While it is great that so many efforts are planned to save the city, the NEDA research was conducted more than four years ago, yet signs of urban decay, if not worsening, are still blatantly apparent. Having said that, the local government needs to reconsider plans for economic development in order to lessen the adverse impacts on the environment. It's crucial to find the right balance between the reality of urban decay and the intended economic progress.
A big blow to environmental efforts
With its land area spanning only about 5,700 hectares, it is no wonder why the residents of Baguio are facing all of these water supply problems because the city and its resources can only accommodate 30,000 people. I then learned that another factor that causes water shortages in the city is the cutting down of pine forests, which are used to recharge the city's aquifers.
As I mentioned before, the summer capital is known for its green spaces and gigantic pine trees; the place is literally dubbed the "City of Pines." So, imagine my horror when I discovered that Vista Residences Inc. (VRI)—under Vista land owned by the Villars—cut down more than 50 old-growth pine trees in 2020 at Outlook Drive, one of the last pine forest stands in the city.
Michael Bengwayan, an environmental activist, explained that the trees prevent water runoff and replenish brooks and springs. Aside from that, he enumerated how important these pine trees are to us: They supply the oxygen needs of more than two hundred people, reduce global warming, and act as a buffer zone against strong typhoons and winds.
The city government was unaware of this, and Magalong questioned why a permit was granted to VRI. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the very department that's supposed to handle matters regarding the conservation and protection of the environment, signed the permit. And as if the situation couldn’t make any more sense, the chairperson of the Senate of Environment and Natural Resources is Cynthia Villar, wife of the owner of Vista Land.
There goes all of our effort to save the City of Pines. It’s a very big blow to the city’s plans. Even with more than 50 projects aligned, this one of the many predicaments concerning our environment is a setback to our fight to make urban decay reversible.
Hypothetically, come 2043, and we failed to save the city from being engulfed by urban decay. The City of Pines no longer has pine trees, the green spaces have turned into houses and roads, the watersheds are damaged and can no longer be a source of potable water, and the air is no longer breathable. As a result of the inconveniences caused by it, people and businesses will relocate to more advantageous places. Baguio will lose everything that it was known for.
Note that this is not a result of inaction on the part of the residents or the local government at all. I am aware that there are many activities aimed at preventing urban decay, as I myself have been part of them as well as many other concerned citizens of Baguio City. Their efforts to save their home should be recognized, and more environmental calls should be amplified. However, even if action is taken, the city may continue to deteriorate so long as there are people who don't care about the environment.
I’m afraid that addressing the impending doom of Baguio City will be difficult. That is why our fight is to not only make urban decay reversible but also to hold accountable those in positions of authority who misuse our resources in order to feed their own greed and line their own pockets.
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