Baguio News: Convention Center Re-Opens, New Centre For Driver’s License Renewal & Possible Building Ban

Recent news in Baguio City! Re-opening of Baguio Convention Center for Baguio Day Celebration after its prolonged renovation, the Land Transportation Office opening a new center for drivers to obtain and renew their driving licenses. And finally, a possible building ban which may be implemented in Baguio.

A host of activities are taking place in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, so much that it is hard to keep track. At Pilipinas Popcorn, we give you the news and help keep you up-to-date on what’s happening around you.

Building Ban in Baguio

As reported by SunStar, the Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM) is in full support of a temporary suspension of new building constructions in the city. This comes after a high-rise being constructed by Moldex Realty had to cut down trees to erect their new structure. This prompted outrage from environmentalist groups and residents of the city to call on the authorities for something to be done.

The chairman of BRM, Erdolfo Balajadia suggested that the city government enforce ordinances that will restrict construction companies from destroying nature. “If they would not want to listen to us then let’s fight all the way,” Balajadia said.

In a Senate hearing led by Richard Gordon tackling the bill creating a development authority, a representative from the Baguio Heritage Foundation Inc. supported the plans. But he, however, pointed out other problems the city would be better served paying more attention to.  

Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro of the Regional Development Office of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), also stated aside from moratorium of buildings, there should be a focus on the underlying principle which is the carrying capacity of the city which is not meant for millions of people.

The Baguio Heritage Foundation restated during the hearing that they are pushing for a carrying capacity analysis for Baguio and surrounding areas. NEDA is still awaiting results of the analysis which began in 2018.

Land Transportation Office Opens New Office

The Department of Transportation-Land Transportation Office (DOTr-LTO) has opened a new driver’s license renewal center. The new center which is located at the central business district is said to have been opened to allow the public to have better access to their services with less stress, according to the Philippine News Agency.

In an interview, Robert Allan Santiago, officer-in-charge of the DOTr Cordillera, stated that “The driver’s license renewal office (DLRO) was established to ease the queues in Pacdal, which was very difficult for those getting their licenses as a result of the heavy traffic”.

The DLRO is located on the second floor of Porta Vaga Mall, Upper Session Road. It is  Baguio’s main road and is within walking distance from all areas in the city and has various parking spaces nearby for drivers’ ease.

This should come as a respite to residents of Baguio who have had to queue for long periods of time or be stuck in traffic as a result of the limited parking space in Pacdal. Pacdal, which coincidentally, is located close to many tourist spots in Baguio, thereby congesting the area and making the process even more difficult. Santiago further added that the driver’s license renewal can now be processed at the same time with the renewal of vehicle registrations.

Santiago said the establishment of a new LTO center is in compliance with the order of LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante. The order of Secretary Galvante was to give convenience to clients transacting in all field offices. This doesn’t stop here though as Santiago has explained his future plans of expanding the services of the DLRO to cater to new non-professional or professional driver’s license applicants.

In addition to this, operations manager at Porta Vaga, Jimmy Bello, mentioned that the mall’s administration will allow the LTO Office open earlier than 9 AM, which is when the mall officially opens. So customers can go in and process their transactions as soon as they can without having to wait for the mall to open.

Santiago additionally clarified that the Pacdal office will be staying open as well but the DLRO will apply only to clients renewing their license and applying for a student permit.

Other changes include the waiting time as clients can now get their licenses within 30 minutes to an hour and the LTO will now be printed on a PVC Card instead of paper. Student permits will still remain on paper.

Baguio Day Sees The Partial Re-Opening of Convention Centre

SunStar reports that Baguio Convention Center (BCC) will greet residents on the city’s charter on September 1, 2019. The Center is not a hundred percent done but nevertheless, City Councilor Mylen Yaranon said parts of the Center can still be used for the Baguio Day celebration.

Yaranon said “the contractor and DPWH promised that we can celebrate Baguio Day at BCC. Though it doesn’t mean it will be 100 percent done”.

Additionally, Yaranon mentioned that the convention center is 60 percent done as the main hall already has both ceiling and walls installed as well as the toilet tiles. Wood planks though have not been installed yet.

The City stakeholders and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have had disagreements over the past months due to impasses in work and plans implemented. The first confusion arose when DPWH revised plans for the BCC signed by the Mayor without the technical working group, the City Buildings and Architecture Office and the City Council not being made aware of the changes.

The revised plans made by the DPWH sought to remove the elevator, escalator and the mezzanine. Their reason being that the structural integrity of the BCC will be compromised if these are added to it.

Incumbent Mayor, Mauricio Domogan said that both city stakeholders and the DPWH have valid reasons to be upset and has set to hold a dialogue between both parties for a parley.