Baguio City stresses youth participation in streets for Children Roadshop

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the City Government of Baguio through the City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) and the City Engineering Office (CEO) conducted a Streets for Children Roadshop in Baguio City National High School – Hillside Annex aiming to promote livable communities from children’s perspective, April 19.

Sustainability and Development Officer Arch. Donna Tabangin said that one of the problem areas of the city is the streets and thus the roadshop aims to include the children and youth as codesigners of streets in the city.

“The roads, for example, are public spaces which are shared by everyone. And, these are used by kids and young people, so they should be part of this design and decision-making activity,” stressed Architect Tabangin.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong emphasized that “it is crucial that we listen to the voices and ideas of the youth when it comes to making important decisions that will affect the community of the years to come.”

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Capacity Development Officer Elijah Go Tian and Research Associate JB Valderama were also present in the program to conduct the Streets for Children Lecture and Workshop.

UNDP Capacity Development Officer Elijah Go Tian mentioned that “the children are the future.”

“It’s actually amazing to see what they (children) identify and what they see as the problem because it’s something that us adults forget. They see the smallest and simplest things which make the most sense,” said Tian, “they would show us how to create an equitable city, because if you create a city for kids, you create a city for all.”

Architect Tabangin mentioned that the Streets for Children roadshop is part of the Safe and Sound Cities program aiming to teach leadership to the youth so they can also become co-decision makers in anything that affects their spaces.

Furthermore, Architect Tabangin said that the Streets for Children Roadshop is only one of the many things they plan to do in the city. – B- Patrick Balanon