Equal distribution of development opportunities is being advocated.
Gladys Vergara, incumbent Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) chair is advocating to disperse development to the 129 barangays.
“There is too much growth concentrated in the commercial sections of the city, while development in the outskirts seems slow and too laid back, moving development into the far-flung areas shall induce incentive among their residents, while distributing the seeds of growth there,” Vergara said.
The BTC emabarked on a tourism tour of the city outskirts in a bid to to induce socio-economic growth.
Vergara identified thickly populated barangays like Irisan, Asin and Loakan as worthy enough for development to take firm roots for its benefits to be shared in equitable proportion.
Barangay Irisan, the city’s most populated area, was part of the tour and is envisioned to rediscovering tourism potential and increasing engagement by the BTC.
Vergara engaged Irisan Punong Barangay Arthur Carlos and purok leaders, to the BTC commitment to identifying barangay-based needs for enhanced collaboration and the development of new tourism sites.
Vergara likewise discussed the revitalization of the Barangay Tourism Council programs, waste management concerns, and renewable energy alternatives like solar-powered streetlights. “Let us ignite fresh sources of cooperation that can help Irisan flourish.
“City life is not what happens in the central business area, growth momentum in these populous areas must be accelerated to spread out the benefits of a strong economy where city folks living away from the core get to experience sustainable development,” Vergara said.
The BTC is a non-stock non-profit organization composed of the private and public agencies with the goal of uniting and elevating the different sectors of businesses in the city with restaurants, hotels, inns, tour, travel, and transport groups as members.
