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Baguio, which used to be famous for its fresh air and clear mountain vistas, has become a victim of pollution. The past trending news about the city’s appalling traffic buildup in its major thoroughfares has given birth to a major environmental concern—worsening air quality.
According to the latest data from its City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office, Baguio has over 32,000 vehicles on the road. The recent Climate Change Summit held at the Baguio Convention Center and Cultural Center reported that 94% of the city’s air pollution came from vehicles, such as passenger cars, motorcycles, utility vehicles, and public transportation.
Stepping up to address climate change
One of the most traffic-congested areas in the City of Pines is Session Road, a major road included in the National Route 231 of the country’s highway network and at the heart of the Baguio Central Business District.
In 2019, motor vehicles were prohibited from using Lower Session Road for a trial period of six months. From then on, the area has continued to be pedestrian-exclusive every Sunday. With Session Road’s one-way traffic scene, the city government hopes to free up its streets, boost air quality, and urge residents and visitors to walk instead of driving or riding a motor vehicle.
Meanwhile, small businesses are encouraged to line the road, offering goods and services. Chalk artists, street dancers, and cosplayers are also welcome to the space, boosting the city’s cultural atmosphere and local economy.
This move is part of the city’s measures to lower greenhouse gas emissions, as mentioned in its Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP).
Strides for greater impact
Though pedestrianization efforts are laudable, these are only a starting point for a more comprehensive emission reduction plan. Several months ago, officials expressed their goal to accomplish “net zero carbon emissions” by 2050 across various sectors throughout Baguio City. This means improving energy efficiency in industries, buildings, and transportation through innovative solutions and sustainable methods.
Central strategy components involve shifting toward electric vehicles, enhancing public transportation, and creating additional safe bicycle lanes to encourage emission-free mobility. The LCCAP is willing to allocate funds for this undertaking to discourage vehicle usage and highlight Baguio’s walkability.
However, this may be a challenge because of the city’s topography, which is marked by mildly undulating terrain. This potentially translates to considerable infrastructure alterations requiring extensive resources and labor. Still, the local government is determined to make such changes, earning the top 3 spot for the country’s Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities from Mobility Awards.
More challenges for Baguio City
Still, poor air quality is not the city’s only environmental issue. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Baguio has other pressing concerns that need to be addressed so the city can restore its ecological well-being. These are river water quality, solid waste management, forest conservation, traffic congestion, the rise in informal settlers, and illegal construction.
In 2019, DENR declared the city’s Balili River to possess much higher fecal coliform levels than Manila Bay. While the latter set a record-high 35 million milliliters (mpn/100 ml), Balili River displayed a 1.6 trillion level. Earlier this year, the Department of Health announced that contamination was detected in one of Baguio’s water sources, which explained the outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in the city.
Meanwhile, a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) study highlights more crucial urban sustainability indicators that the city needs to consider. These include road extent and area, water supply, liquid waste treatment, and available land for urban development. All these factors are especially vital, with the city’s population projected to grow to over 530,000 by 2045.
In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on ambient air pollution. In the Philippines, Baguio topped the list as having the worst air pollution in the country, with Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) levels measuring 49 micrograms per cubic meter. Furthermore, air pollution deaths in the city were more than 2,000 from 2015 to 2019.
Keeping pace with the Paris Agreement
The Baguio City Public Information (BCPIO) confirms that Baguio’s city council has approved a memorandum of agreement with a renewable energy company to address waste management issues. This agreement allows the city to provide suitable solid waste to serve as feedstock for a suggested waste-to-energy facility in Sablan, Benguet.
With measures like this, the city hopes to comply with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate scientists support this target to prevent severe warming effects, such as water scarcity, wildfires, intensified storms, and biodiversity loss.
Aside from transitioning to renewable energy, the city government also vows to invest in regenerative agriculture, which involves practices that enhance carbon storage, promote circular use of resources, and utilize approaches leveraging natural processes. The council also realizes the need to educate its residents on carbon reduction and sustainable living practices, cultivating a community-wide commitment to environmental responsibility.
Source: Baguio strides towards walkability, active mobility in climate change fight