Mayor: Don’t twist facts on BIBAK lot development
Mayor Benjamin Magalong has dismissed as fact-twisting the claim that the Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao and Kalinga (BIBAK) lot is now being developed under a joint city government-Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) venture to build commercial parking lot to benefit car owners instead of a dormitory for indigent youth.
“For one, there had been no consummation of a memorandum of agreement being drafted between the city and the DENR for the development of the Gov. Pack Road and BIBAK patrimonial properties so how can the act of demolishing the BIBAK dormitory to pave the way for the modernized parking be done as claimed by Coun. Mylen Yaranon in her post,” the mayor said.
He said the councilor was even present when the matter was discussed in the city council session on June 27, 2022 where the regional director of the DENR-CAR informed that the BIBAK area was excluded from the MOA being drafted in deference to a pending request from National Commission of the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
“The city did not challenge the statement of the DENR. Being the administrator of the patrimonial properties, it is the best agency to decide on what may be added or removed from the MOA,” the mayor said.
He said what the city has is only a conceptual development plan for Gov. Pack Road and BIBAK which is not the final plan.
“As clear as a summer’s day, it is manifest that we have not even reached the first step yet, how can there be a demolition already? The City gave a conceptual design and as the term implies it is not final and subject to revisions. Such conceptual design may be used for the DENR to facilitate the signing of the MOA,” he said.
Early this year, the Office of the City Planning and Development Office presented said plan to the city council.
The Gov. Pack Road plan aims to establish a parking center for the Central Business District and a public transport exchange hub with commercial amenities designed to accommodate not only private vehicles but also public utility vehicles for both the residents and tourists.
The BIBAK area was proposed to house a multi-use building for commercial, offices, urban agriculture hub with a parking facility linked to the Gov. Pack proposal. Part of the discussion was that one floor of about 4,800 sqm for BIBAK should be incorporated in the design.
“Since the BIBAK was excluded and the MOA has yet to be finalized and signed, we are still waiting for the decision of the DENR. Only after it is approved that we can start consultations on what could be the best uses for the redevelopment of these underutilized properties. The city presented a conceptual design and as the term implies, it not final and subject to revisions. DENR is the agency that will also approve the development plan,” the mayor explained.
With these developments, he said co-city officials “should show more care and propriety in our statements.”
“Conscience dictates that we should not twist the truth and facts that may cause divisiveness. Katotohanan lang po sana, walang kasinungalingan,” he said. – PIO Baguio
