To attract more investors was the buzz at the City Council the past days. Thus, proposed amendments to the Investment Code are being considered. Apparently forgotten is the fact that the city was originally designed for 25,000 people. Now the city is teeming with about 400,000 thousand people. It is practically bursting at the seams.
Yet the city’s leaders’ pre-occupation is to generate more jobs by attracting investors. More people will flock to the city. But the call of the hour is to encourage out-migration. The only practical way to do that is to decentralize development. Not the kind though that seems to be in the minds of our politicians which is just to encourage movement from the CBD to outlying barangays.
Decentralization should go further beyond the BLISTT areas. For these would also be congested in no time. Our time horizon should be extended a lot further. As far as Buguias, Benguet or Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya or Rosario and Agoo, La union.
Considering these are beyond Baguio’s territorial jurisdiction, a “whole of nation approach is needed”. Verily.
Developing these areas to become cities would mean more job opportunities. A lot of people in Baguio City and other places will be siphoned there in search of opportunities.
Life will become better in Baguio, at the very least. It might even become wholesome again as it used to be. Less parking and squatting problems, the air would become fresher as it might become again the City of Pines, and may never become a “City of Fees.” While the genie cannot be completely pushed back into the bottle, a lot of benefits will result in the long term.
There will be no need for a humongous building to serve as market place. For such concept was made a necessity by overpopulation where the only option is vertical development as land areas are not expanding.
And similar resulting vagaries like illegal drugs and other crimes, and pollution of all sorts would be easier to control or manage.
An added bonus of having such coutlying cities would be the development of the places in between, including the BLISTT areas.
The big question though is, can it be done?
It would require thinking out of the box. Or progressive thought with far-sightedness. Not being contented with dealing only with problems as they come. Or just limiting oneself with the here and now.
Are our leaders up to it?
Well, the next elections are just around the bend. They are single minded on what need to be done to keep their positions or to advance to more powerful spots. Political horse trading are underway. Including back stabbing.
How about after the elections? Will such forward thinking gain some traction among our politicians?
No because it will not gain votes. Some pieces of silver will. Be mindful also the elections after the coming ones would be very near again. So election preoccupation among our politicians is a safe bet anytime of the year.
Are we hopeless? No. We just have to hope some body will come along with the capacity to keep the distant future in sight as he grapples with and survive present and upcoming political realities.**