BAGUIO CITY– With the city council’s approved Ordinance No. 18, Series of 2016 also known as the Environment Code of the City of Baguio to continuously preserve the environment for the sake of the constituents, acting city mayor, vice mayor Edison Bilog recently formed the Green Building and Urban Gardening Committee through Administrative Order No. 154.
The said committee will be chaired by city buildings officer, Engr. Nazita Bañez, with members from the city environment and parks management office; city administrator’s office; city engineering office; city planning and development office; representatives from the local finance committee, an accredited organization of architects, accredited organization of civil engineers, a duly recognized environmental organization and duly recognized urban planner.
Bilog stressed the committee will come up with minimum standards and specifications as requirements of new buildings subject to the approval of the city council; screen, evaluate applications and certify green buildings; monitor compliance of building owners with green building accreditation; formulate and recommend to the city council incentives under Article 8, Section 44 of the Environmental Code including its continuation or stoppage based on the approved criteria; evaluate existing and related programs of the city to be harmonized with the Environmental Code; promote green buildings in new constructions and recommend buildings with historical, aesthetic and architectural value for retrofitting following the local green building framework; and help the city showcase green building concepts in its own building designs and projects.
“The City of Baguio adopts internationally accepted standards for green engineering and architecture to bolster its citizens’ right to a balanced and healthy ecology. It promotes and encourages the benchmarks in the location, design, building, renovation, retrofitting, conversion, operation, maintenance and demolition of structure within its jurisdiction”.
“It is also a policy of the city to adopt programs that would promote community-based organic agriculture/gardening systems which include the sustainable production of organic fertilizers. The city also encourages organic agricultural production in every household to help attain food security. The city also recognizes urban organic gardens devoted to flowering and ornamental plants which enhance the environmental and tourism value of the city to include vertical/roof gardens, hydroponics, pot gardens and backyard gardens,” is stated in the order. **Jho Arranz
