Changes sought in Baguio project to save pine trees

BAGUIO CITY — Officials of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have proposed that the construction of the Happy Hollow span of the 20-kilometer Baguio Circumferential Road be stopped.

Their objective is to prevent the cutting down of some 2,000 pine trees inside the John Hay forest reserve in Baguio City.

In an official statement, the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. said Happy Hollow residents are "at the forefront in protecting and increasing forest cover in their 30-hectare watershed to ensure irrigation and household water supply for more than 200 households."

A portion of the Baguio Circumferential Road passes through 11 of the city’s barangays, as well as the Benguet provincial capital of La Trinidad.

Of the total construction cost of P300 million, P270 million will be used for "road improvement," while P30 million will go to "road right-of-way acquisition and improvements."

The Happy Hollow portion will cost an estimated P75.323 million, which is 28 percent of the P270 million allocated for the road improvement project. — Aurora Alambra