Baguio coops hold cleanup drive at Burnham Park

The city government’s urgent plea to help keep the Summer Capital ‘clean and orderly’ has not gone unheeded.    

The Baguio City Cooperative Development Council (BCCDC) in coordination with the local government thru the City Mayor’s Office-Special Services Division (CMO-SSD) conducted a clean-up drive, April 28, at Burnham Park.

SSD officer-in-charge Michelle Agbuya, BCCDC secretariat chief, said 147 members from 26 local cooperatives participated in the whole-day activity.

“This truly signifies the importance of increasing awareness of the role of cooperatives as a group and as individuals to help protect and care for the environment. They have been an active partner of the city in many of its programs and projects,” she said.

In coordination with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) under lawyer Rhenan Diwas, the volunteers were divided into groups and assigned in the following areas: Rose Garden and its perimeter path walk; Inner and outer lake pathways; Skating Rink and its perimeter pathwalk; Igorot Park including Ganza pay parking; and Melvin Jones including Lake Drive.

Agbuya said the clean-up is in support of one of the city government’s main thrusts to maintain Baguio’s cleanliness and orderliness under the leadership of Mayor Benjamin Magalong.

“In this regard, it is proper that the cooperatives join forces in committing to this goal and make this activity part of their regular volunteer work for the city,” she stressed.

The clean-up drive is an initial activity to encourage cooperatives to implement similar actions in the future that will help decrease environmental problems, Agbuya added.

“The experience and participation of the various cooperatives was overwhelming and they were able to prove once again that they are one with the city’s programs.  They were able to show that they are a formidable force that when working together, they can actually be a catalyst for change,” she said.
Earlier, the Mayor urged barangay officials to assist in maintaining the city’s ‘clean and orderly’ image befitting its status as the country’s ‘Summer Capital’ and top tourist destination. – Gaby B. Keith