BAGUIO CITY – The local government is planning to develop six new economic areas or "growth nodes" to help decongest the city's central business district.
City information office chief Aileen Refuerzo, in a phone interview on Monday, said that “the proposed new economic areas aim to decongest the central business district where most businesses are located and economic activities thrive but it will remain as the prime commercial and institutional center.”
She said that the project's objective is to make the CBD greener, walkable, and bikeable. The city did not immediately give a target date for the completion of the project.
Called the “Growth Node Development Plan for Baguio City,” the project will focus on transport-oriented development, urban agriculture, arts and crafts, parks, heritage and landmark restoration, ecotourism, and business incubation including the development and operation of the Loakan airport.
Refuerzo said the six identified areas are in Barangays Dontogan, Irisan, Sto. Niño, Mines View, Kennon, and at the Loakan Airport.
Dontogan is envisioned as a transport-oriented development and urban agriculture node within the 10-hectare property under a usufruct agreement with the Department of Agriculture. It will host the proposed intermodal transport terminal, the modern abattoir, and cold storage including several line agencies as well as a forest buffer.
An area in Barangay Irisan is also proposed to be developed as the Northbound Hub transport-oriented development and arts and crafts node.
Another transport-oriented development node is proposed in Barangay Sto. Niño to be called the Cordillera Gateway Hub. It will have commercial spaces and cold storage facility aside from the terminal and parking.
She said that the Parks Hub will feature interconnected heritage parks and sites from Wright Park to Mines View Park, which will undergo improvements. The Mines View will feature a mine tunnel simulator and glass walk, an improved horseback riding area at Wright Park, and the addition of more horseback routes, among others.
The fifth hub is Kennon Road, which is eyed as an Eco Hub Zone, and will be focused on eco-tourism and urban agriculture with a view deck and terminal parking.
The sixth in the plan is the Airport Hub – envisioned as a transport-oriented and business incubator zone in Loakan.
Aside from the new growth nodes, the redevelopments at Governor Pack Road, Session Road, and the Market are also eyed to be provided provisions for parking buildings, improvement of pedestrian spaces, and incorporation of biking routes. (PNA)