Cutting of pine trees, garbage blamed for Baguio’s worst flood in years

Rapid urbanization has its price.

The cutting of pine trees and the growing garbage problem in Baguio have been blamed for the resort city’s worst flooding and landslides in years.

Most of the casualties were buried by landslides that struck elevated areas while others were swept away by floodwaters in the mountain valleys.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said rains dumped by typhoon "Feria" caused the City Camp Lagoon to reach the 1,985-millimeter level Thursday, easily surpassing the rainy season average level of 838 millimeters.

Swelling of the basin caused water to spill over to the lower parts of the Rock Quarry and barangays Palma and Queen of Peace. Environmentalists blamed garbage thrown by lagoon residents for blocking the underground tunnels into which the City Camp waters flow.

But the City Camp Lagoon was not the only problem area.

The Burnham Lagoon overflowed its concrete banks so rapidly that by lunchtime Thursday– just when employees were being sent home early – the waters had reached up to the Rose Garden at the foot of Rizal Park to the west and even up to the Melvin Jones football field to the north.

Rushing waters from Session Road and Gen. Luna Road also flooded the downtown area, covering Harrison and Abanao roads and Magsaysay Avenue. One senior citizen died when swept away by water in front of a department store.

On the other hand, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said the high death toll from landslides can be blamed on houses built indiscriminately in danger areas.

Some Baguio residents have been complaining that squatters have started to mushroom in danger areas, unchecked by the local government that has still to pass a general land use plan.

"Pine trees, which have made Baguio so popular, are being indiscriminately cut down to make way for houses," one resident said.

One of the major problem areas is Greenwater fronting the middle gate of Camp John Hay, where squatters have started scraping the mountains for their homes.

Despite Forestry Code Limitations on homes being built over slopes above 18 degrees, houses have started sprouting over the steepest areas.

Even the summer home of the late President Ramon Magsaysay atop Dominican Hill now has several shanties for neighbors.