The People vs. SM Baguio: Barking Up The Wrong Tree (Part 1 of 2)

The People vs. SM Baguio: Do We Really Know All The Facts? (Photo courtesy of Save 182 Baguio)

 I’d like to hit a different nerve this time. And it involves going up all the way to the City of Pines.

If you’re guessing this right now, you probably got it correct. I am referring to SM Baguio’s Expansion and the on-going public campaign to stop the mall from earth-balling and cutting what’s left of the Benguet pine trees in what was once Luneta Hill.

SM is seen right now as the devil out to destroy Baguio’s natural beauty and charm. By building its first mall in the City of Pines, SM damaged what was one of Baguio’s most iconic landmarks next to Mines View Park and Burnham Park. By earth-balling and cutting the remaining Benguet and Alnus pines in the area, the mall operator cemented its reputation as one the leading environmental destructors in the country, at least according to environmentalists and Baguio residents.

However, I feel that the way environmentalists are portraying SM in such a bad light is bordering to cruelty against one company who has also committed itself to promoting environmental awareness and preservation while at the same time advocating economic progress and development. If there is a demonic entity here, Iit’s the citizens of Baguio themselves. They are the ones who allowed this kind of encroachment to happen to the city since American period. They’re the ones who promoted Baguio as the “Summer Capital” due to its cool climate and clean environment. They’re the ones who elected the local officials who in turn granted liberty to business owners, both local and foreign, to set foot in the city and build anything from inns and bars to hotels and shopping malls. They’re the ones who allowed the influx of migrants to go on unchecked without much awareness of its consequences to the city’s resources and surroundings.

When Daniel Burham and the Americans carved out Baguio’s hills to erect The Mansion, Burnham Park and the rest of what are now iconic landmarks in the city, we didn’t have this kind of public clamor. When hotels such as the old Diplomat Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, or even the new ones such as Mines View Hotel or Hotel Veniz, we didn’t hear anything to that effect. Why? Because we felt that these acts are just small that it won’t harm the environment? And now that we see something big like SM’s planned SkyGarden, we throw stones at it? This is indeed the epitome of the saying, “Ang punong hitik sa bunga, madalas pinupukol.”

To be fair to SM, it has done its fair share to promote sustainable use of natural resources such as introducing their M.O.B or “Bring My Own Bag” on Wednesdays to promote the use of cloth and recycled paper bags instead of plastic. It contributes a certain amount to environmental causes for every SM mineral bottle you buy. And now, SM is trying to balance its urban presence with natural environment by promoting green architecture, which we saw in its successful SkyGarden in SM North EDSA. Such initiatives had become models for local governments to emulate such as the successful banning of plastic and Styrofoam in places such as Tagaytay, Muntinlupa and Bacoor, and the Pasig Rainforest.

A Balance of Urban and Natural: SM Baguio's SkyGarden Expansion. (Photo courtesy of Baguio-City.net)

And in the planned expansion of SM Baguio, documents from the DENR show that the company has also committed itself in rehabilitating and preserving the city’s natural environment. According the urban forestry practitioner Armando Palijon, the expansion project will only occupy 1.1 hectares of the total 8 hectares of the Luneta Hill property. Thus, including the 1.9 hectares of the already existing mall, the entire project will only use up 3 hectares, and will leave an entire 5 hectares of open space for trees. Aside from this fact, SM has also committed itself to planting 50,000 saplings of Benguet pine and other native trees in and around Baguio as replacement for the 182 trees to be cut or earth-balled. The design of the Baguio SkyGarden itself showcases environmentally-friendly facilities such as rainwater harvesting systems and lush gardens. Both these  facts can compensate for increase in C02 levels, which environmentalists are claiming will occur once the 182 pine trees are cut.

The development of Baguio is a running train that is difficult to stop. But it's not caused by one company alone. It's caused by an opportunistic and indiffent local society which allowed the train of development to run amok, and then blame it on train itself. I know everyone might not agree with me, but the environmentalists and the others involved in this campaign are barking up the wrong tree.

To be continued...

PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

Photo courtesy of Sec. Cesar Purisima's Facebook page.

We've got visitors this week.

You can tell by the way the landscape is being refreshed in major thoroughfares like EDSA and Roxas Boulevard -- palm trees earth-balled and replanted in the center island -- making it look like Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Sidewalks, flyovers, overpasses, even urinals -- all have been repainted. Corrugated sheets of aluminium were put up on the sides of bridges to cover the smelly, dirty mess of the estuary and the informal settlers below. The usual truck ban just became unusual as it was expanded to a total day time ban. These are just few of the things the Philippines is doing to put its best foot forward to the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank from 2-5 May 2012.

There’s nothing wrong with all these preparations. It’s common sense for any country to do some housekeeping in anticipation of visitors, especially foreign ones. We can say that our country is like a good homeowner, who makes his house clean and tidy in time for fiesta season. S/he will put her/his best foot forward to make sure that there won’t be any inconvenience to the visitor within their stay. This kind of attitude is also reflected in the way we attend meetings, conferences or even weekly worship service – we come in our best clothes, making sure we look clean and tidy in the presence of others. Thus, it is excusable if the government spends tax money, time and effort for this event. Failing to prepare for this event will do more damage to our pride and reputation as a nation, compared to the inconvenience of a total truck ban or sheets of galvanized iron to temporarily cover squatter shanties.

Consequently, it is unreasonable for trucking companies or informal settlers (or anyone else for that matter) to complain how they are being affected by these preparations. Their actions are tantamount to a child complaining about having to keep his/her toys in the toy box because Uncle Sam or John Bull is coming to visit. Much like in the household, all stakeholders in this nation must understand the need for these arrangements. For a country trying to convince the world that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, cooperation, not obstruction, is ever more important right now. Regardless of what ever issue we have over the Asian Development Bank (especially over loaning practices and influence over national economic policies), in keeping with being a good host putting her/his best foot forward, we must avoid acts that could set a negative impression such as unrest, illegal rallies and demonstrations, and the likes. (This is one call I am directing most specifically to our friends in the Left Movement out there.) After all, despite what they have to hurl against ADB, we cannot deny that it is one of the country’s biggest benefactors in the fight against poverty in the country.

Nevertheless, even as we exceed in this task of hospitality and generosity towards our foreign visitors, we must keep in mind the principle of Occam’s Razor: “It is vain to do with more, what can be done with less.” We can be welcoming and cordial, without having to pompous and extravagant. It doesn’t have to take beyond the capacity of our meagre resources just to appease our guests to the highest level. Our target is simply to make their stay secure and comfortable, and their mission, successful and fulfilling. And if we are to extend that best foot forward, I sure hope we could continue extending it after the visitors have come and gone. After all, a host who is kind to the guest, but is cruel to waiters and servants is NOT a great host. If we can be a good host to our neighbours, then we must be good host to our own people, who expect the most from our hosts, as well.

The 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank will be from 2-5 May 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center, CCP Complex, Pasay City. TSS