LOOK: NRC, Mayor Benjie Magalong to discuss Baguio’s resilience
The National Resilience Council (NRC) paid a courtesy visit to the Hon. Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City to have an initial discussion on the resilience journey of Baguio last November 7, 2023.
Baguio City is one of the adopted cities under the NRC’s Adopt-A-City Initiative, with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. being the private sector partner. One of the points of discussion is about the Resilience 101 to be held on November 9 and 10, 2023 at the Ritz Legarda Hotel, Baguio City.
Mayor Benjie Magalong also stated his vision for the city – aiming to be one of the most livable cities in the Philippines by 2026, as well as the introduction of Baguio City as a “smart city”, a technologically advanced urban area that utilizes electronic methods and sensors to gather specific data leading to enhanced operational processes throughout the city.
Arch. Donna Tabangin, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of Baguio City, then presented the city’s Barangay Livability Index, Digital Twin, Land Use, and Proposed Zoning. These plans are in coordination with the City’s goal of livability by 2026 by using Engineer’s Hill Barangay as a model unit. These plans and goals will aid the NRC in tailor fitting the Baguio City’s resilience journey.
Following the courtesy meeting with Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the NRC team visited the Smart City Command Center of Baguio City. Established in 2018, the Baguio LGU took a significant step towards enhancing the services provided to residents and tourists. With the goal of being part of the most liveable cities by 2026, the primary aim of this project is to centralize and streamline all city operations, enabling swift and informed decision-making and responses to various situations by utilizing data and resources.
The NRC team subsequently headed to Saint Louis University (SLU) to explore with their faculty and staff the potential partnership between the NRC and SLU as the academic partner aiding Baguio City’s resilience journey. SLU is a private Catholic research basic and higher education institution at the heart of Baguio. The institution has been recommended by the city government as a partner in resilience for their specialization in research, architecture, and engineering.
The Adopt-A-City Initiative of the NRC involves engaging key private sector partners in supporting the 3-year Leadership for Resilient LGU Program, which aims to strengthen the leadership and governance capacities of local government units (LGUs) to achieve human, economic, infrastructure, and environmental resilience.
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