P-Noy leads efforts to lure back Baguio City tourists

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – President Aquino has “switched on the green light” here in a bid to lure back tourists to the country’s summer capital.

Aquino led the switching of the energy-efficient lighting system at Burnham Park late Friday to signal the efforts to promote tourism in the city.

“I have seen its pre-eminent status as the summer capital of the Philippines, and with the cooperation of everyone, all the gifts of Baguio can still be recovered,” he said.

Baguio has been experiencing a slump in tourist arrivals for many years. There had been efforts for better image building such as new tourist infrastructure.

Baguio City is the first recipient of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project of the Department of Energy (DOE) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Baguio City Rep. Bernardo Vergara also led officials in lighting up the famous tourist spots in the city such as the Wright Park near Mansion House.

Vergara said the DOE’s Public Lighting Retrofit Program in the city would not only boost tourism but also save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who was with the President in the lighting ceremony, said the project is the first step to make Burnham safe, secure and beautiful.

Burnham Park and other parks in the city have been suffering from neglect, hence losing their charm as tourist attractions.

“It is now the start of the revival of where Burnham Park was (in the past),” Aquino told the audience before the ceremonial lighting amid a heavy downpour.

He cited the importance of promoting tourism in the city and in the whole country as well.

Aquino and his sister, TV host Kris Aquino, earlier tried the Tree Top Adventure at Camp John Hay.

He said the Tree Top’s zipline adventure is the newest “extreme sport” attraction in the city.

The President also vowed efficient government investments in major roads leading to Baguio, including the maintenance of Marcos Highway and complete rehabilitation of the historic Kennon Road.

“Together we can realize these goals, nothing is impossible,” he said.

Almendras added that the DOE installed 314 mercury vapor lamps and other retrofitted park lights at Burnham and Wright Park. He said the lamps will last more than 10,000 lighting hours and will take years before replacement.

By that time, Almendras said the city government will be able to fund a similar energy-efficient lighting for its maintenance as the lights will already be available locally.

The first phase of the project involves 314 park lights from 250-watt and 150-watt mercury vapor lamps with 70-watt high-pressure sodium (HPS) vapor lamps and 754-watt decorative lamps with 15-watt bollard-type compact fluorescent lamps.

Almendras said the retrofitting is in compliance with the Philippine Roadway Lighting Guidelines under international standards.