It is private firms that drive communities to progress. The bottom lines of their balance sheets reflect the economic health of the city or community where they are found. That is, if we go by our traditional concept of progress ingrained in us by our colonizers. This is how things will be in the foreseeable future.
To introduce a new and revolutionary concept such as how Bhutan measures progress would be an impossibility. That country does not go by what everybody refers to as Gross National Product or the sum of the value of products and services produced at a given time. Instead, Bhutan has its concept of Gross National Happiness. That should be the real measure of progress. For what does it matter a society producing a lot of goods and services if its people are physically and mentally unhealthy? Or they are killing each other out of greed? In short it is a “dog-eat dog” set up with no humanitarian motivation or consideration. And in the process they are decimating their environment making it impossible to have a wholesome life, individually or communally. That is what Baguio City has become.
In the 1960s Baguio was a place where a wholesome family life could be achieved. Over the decades, what used to be its pine scented air has given way to diesel fumes. The clear water in its rivers and creeks have been replaced by black murky stuff laden with industrial, household and personal wastes. Its roads are often choked by traffic. Buildings on its central business district are veritable fire hazards. Dwelling units are becoming more and more congested. The crime rate is on the rise, as well as diseases. Potable water has become scarce. Blackouts have become frequent. The city market which is a favorite tourist destination is badly in need of development to be worthy as the city’s showcase. The garbage problem has yet to be permanently solved. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
While we were still steeped in colonial mentality in the 1960s, Baguio city was whole wholesome then. Now. urban decay is the best phrase to describe it. Can we bring back the past? Impossible.
But we can slow down the decadence and make the congestion at least livable. While population growth will always be like a run-away train, some sanity perhaps can be achieved. One area which is an emergency situation is this region’s being number one in the country when it comes to teenage pregnancy. The city must lead way in arresting this shocking reality.
And the environment’s destruction is as run-away a train as the population’s growth.
All these are hanging like a million Swords of Damocles above our heads. It behooves our political and other leaders to come up with rules and institutions for the swords not to fall.
We the people must also do our part. Being good citizens is OK but that concept has to be redefined. The global village must be reckoned with. While the need for that has been there since the Garden of Eden, never has an in-your-face reminder been so strong. Thus, climate change and the myriad of health vagaries attributable to pollution. There will be more.
Baguio is a microcosm of that. So if we don’t get our act together, we will be the first victim of our own folly. The city has already deteriorated so far, almost irretrievably. It is time to say enough is enough.””