Baguio Chronicle

19/08/2024

06/08/2024

Take a peek at the front page of the Chronicle this week!

Available at your local newsstands

08/07/2024

Apply Now! Be part of Tiongsan Gas Center Family

07/07/2024

31/05/2024

COMELEC has released its calendar of activities for the 2025 national, local and BARMM elections.

The last day of voter registration is on August 31st.

Deadline for filing of candidacy is on October 8th.

16/05/2024

Look:Engineer Wilbur Suanding, head of Baguio City government's Wastewater and Hazardous Waste Management division, gives a briefing to Councilor Mylen Yaranon about the proposed rehabilitation project for the sewerage treatment plant Sanitary Camp on Thursday.

The proposed project, which would include a co-treatment plant for septage with a daily capacity of 80 tons, can accommodate additional connections of up to 6,500 households in the city.

📸Mau Victa
Highlights

26/04/2024

Baguio Chronicle receives best in environmental reporting award from Philippine Press Institute.

17/04/2024

I attended the public hearing on the proposed conversion of the football/softball field of the Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School (MLQES) this morning at the PFVR Gym. I went there to bring across the feelings and thoughts of the child in me whose playing field is soon to be obliterated because it will be replaced by a multi-story commercial establishment.

We stood pat in our opposition no matter what was presented to us as alternative.

NO GREEN BUILDING CAN EVER REPLACE AN OPEN SPACE FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. Facility that will control carbon emission
2. Rain water filtration system
3. Playing spaces

Finally, the proposed conversion of the football/softball field into a multi-story commercial building had been laid to rest since the stake holders are vehement in their opposition.

We will take the word of the mayor when he said that proposal lang naman ito at nandito kami para makipag-usap sa inyo at kung ayaw ninyo sa ipe-present namin, hindi namin ipipilit.

We will take these words as stated. With these words, it is our belief that tapos na ang usapan at titigil na rin ang speculations sa hindi makabatang pagkakagamit ng nasabing lugar.

I stand by them in their opposition base on the following reasons:

1. Children need open spaces for games and learning that require outdoor spaces.
2. Children need open spaces for playing
during break times
3. The school need an open space free from high rise buildings for evacuation area
during calamities.
4. Pupils need to be protected from
unnecessary distractions and destructions in their studies like:
a. Air pollution
b. Traffic noise
c. Commercial establishments

What does the area need?
1. Development of the said area for the holistic development of the pupils like:
a. Installation of perimeter fence
b. Levelling of the area for
c. Construction of benches on the slope
coming from the upper level of the
school
d. Construction of a drainage canal on its edge adjacent to the BCSAT
2. A resolution/ordinance that will permanently prevent the area as an object of speculation for any elected official.

It is only when there is a resolution/ordinance to this effect that the worries and fears of the stakeholders from speculators who will again use this area for their agenda will be eased

While this has been laid to rest, let us remain to be vigilant as we say:

TO COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN ANY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
TO THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

by Lig-ay Annawi

17/04/2024

Parents, alumni and the nearby community of M.L. Quezon Elementary School voice their opposition to the proposed commercial and parking building at the school grounds

14/04/2024

On the Proposed Parking Building at Barangay Military Cut-off

(The proposed construction site is adjacent to the PFVR Gym and near Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School and SPED)

Imagine you are working through a difficult math problem. You try to concentrate but all you can think of is the nauseous, noxious fumes coming in through the classroom windows. A headache sets in, a cough rises in your throat and you begin to fidget in your chair. Teacher closes the windows, and you suffocate in the still warm air of the classroom. So much for a safe, healthy place conducive to learning.

The idea of constructing a car park building in close proximity to learning institutions boggles the mind. There are several reasons why this is not the brightest idea:

1. Car emissions will most likely lead to a spike in respiratory and other systemic illnesses in school children and academic personnel.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, vehicles running on gasoline and diesel account for a big portion of air pollutants and heat-trapping gases that are detrimental to health, especially of children and the elderly.

Some of these deleterious elements are:

A. Particulate matters (PM): these fine particles enter the lungs, along with other elements such as hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, causing a host of respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, influenza, and pneumonia.

With the spike in respiratory disorders such as pertussis , walking pneumonia and, prolonged bouts of coughs in the city brought about by air pollution and more virulent viral infections, should we even think about carpark buildings near residencial and schools areas?

B. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): pollutants that form ground level ozone and with sunlight, cause smog. Smog is an irritant that causes coughs, choking and reduces the lungs’ capacity. These VOCs contain benzene, acetaldehyde, and 1,3 butadiene that are also contributory to cancer.

C. Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (along with methane and nitrous oxide) are heat trapping emissions that are the culprits in our rapidly warming climate.

2. The carpark building is going to be another heat island. Concrete traps the sun’s heat. This in turn causes surface and ambient temperatures to rise. Scientists have predicted a spike in global temperatures after 2030, but hellish temperatures are upon us now. We may not be the primary drivers of global warming (that is attributable to fossil fuel companies, cement, mining and livestock industries), but we surely can act locally to mitigate or lessen its ill effects on us, if we are serious and sensible enough.

3. The carpark building will deprive children of open space for relaxation and active play needed for robust mental, physical and emotional health. This also runs counter to the Department of Health’s present wellness campaign to create more community parks and green spaces for our citizens’ wellbeing and to combat the spike in mental health issues.

First order of the day is to look for ways by which we could get more carbon-emitting, greenhouse gas-causing private vehicles off the road. This means, creating a long overdue program for mass transport system (e.g. shuttle services for barangays), more bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares. Let us not fixate on building more car park buildings especially where our children learn and play. This is a violation of their right to a clean and healthy environment, especially in the midst of the climate crisis.

Lingling Maranan-Claver

13/04/2024

Want to drop-off your donation to those who were affected by the recent fire at Queen of Peace?

Here's a helpful directory you could use on your mobile phone

5 places -

12/04/2024

There is an ongoing fire along MRR Queen of Peace, Baguio City. According to reports, the fire started at about 5:40 am of April 13, 2024.

Send a message to learn more

27/03/2024

Several cars were submerged after rains Wednesday afternoon, March 27 at the City Camp Lagoon, Baguio City.

25/03/2024

CATCH A FISH AT BURNHAM LAKE

7TH FISHING TOURNAMENT - 20 Participants joined the fishing competition organized by Rafael Serrano with his wife Jona and with fellow Baguio Anglers and coordinated by B**g Sabado and Ronaldo Claros held at the Burnham Lake on March 16, 2024. The participants were given 2 hours to catch fish. The winning participants manage to catch a fish with a length not shorter than 12 inches. The next tournament will be on June 12, 2024.

Baguio Chronicle

16/03/2024

Front page
March 2 - 8, 2024
Baguio Chronicle

16/03/2024

Last week's front page
March 9 - 15, 2024
Baguio Chronicle

04/03/2024

Just Asking
March 2-8, 2024
Baguio Chronicle

04/03/2024

ADVISORY

02/03/2024

Last week's front page
February 24 - March 1, 2024
Baguio Chronicle

02/03/2024

This 7-11 store located along Lualhati Barangay was robbed at 3:15 am today by 3 men wearing face masks, one of whom was armed. They fled on a white van. Police are conducting follow-up investigation.