₱100M rehab brings Burnham Lake back to life, restores livelihood of Baguio boat operators

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – After nearly a year of closure and rehabilitation, Burnham Lake reopened to the public on Tuesday, September 1, bringing back not only one of Baguio City’s most iconic attractions but also the livelihood of boat operators who had been forced to stop working during the rehabilitation.

The reopening came as the city marked its 117th Charter Day, with Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Congressman Mauricio Domogan, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovita Ganongan, and other city officials and guests present.

The return of boating activities marks one of the first visible benefits of the rehabilitation of Burnham Park, which is backed by a ₱400-million TIEZA commitment for the park’s improvement.

From closed lake to renewed livelihood

Burnham Lake was closed on October 1, 2025 to make way for rehabilitation works under the first phase of the Burnham Park Master Plan.

While the project was designed to improve the lake and its surrounding facilities, its completion also allowed boat operators to return to an important source of livelihood.

For months, operators who traditionally earned from visitors renting boats at the lake had to suspend their activities while the water was drained and construction works were carried out.

With the lake reopened and new boats being introduced, the rehabilitation has therefore brought back not only a familiar tourist activity but also an income opportunity for those whose livelihoods are linked to Burnham Lake.

₱400M investment for Burnham Park

The lake rehabilitation forms part of the broader effort to improve Burnham Park, one of Baguio’s most recognized public spaces and tourism destinations.

Reports indicated that TIEZA released ₱100 million in October 2025 for the initial rehabilitation works. In February 2026, TIEZA said the additional ₱300 million needed to complete its ₱400-million commitment for the park’s rehabilitation had become available.

The broader rehabilitation plan includes succeeding improvements to other areas of Burnham Park, including the Children’s Park, skating rink, Rose Garden, sidewalks and surrounding areas.

TIEZA is the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism responsible for developing tourism infrastructure and managing special tourism zones.

TIEZA COO Lapid earlier said the rehabilitation aims to improve the park while preserving its historical character.

During a July inspection, Lapid expressed confidence that the lake rehabilitation would be completed in August.

“I am very confident based on our engineers that this will be completed this August,” Lapid said, according to a July report by Street Journal Multimedia Services.

Restoring the lake, preserving its character

The rehabilitation was intended not only to improve the appearance of Burnham Lake but also to address its water quality and surrounding facilities.

City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) head Atty. Rhenan Diwas said the project sought to restore the lake’s ecological balance, improve water quality and ensure its sustainable management.

The first phase included improvements to the docking area, construction of a retaining wall and view deck, and repairs to the sidewalk, including the installation of additional benches.

The project also required the lake to be drained and refilled, making boating and fishing impossible during the construction period.

Diwas assured the public that the rehabilitation would preserve the character of the historic park.

“Wala tayong ipatatayong mga imprastraktura nakakasagabal ngayon sa itsura ng Burnham Lake. May axis tayong sinusunod alinsunod sa orihinal na plano ni Architect Burnham,” Diwas said.

Safer boats, safer return

The reopening also came with a change in the boats that visitors will use.

Mayor Magalong earlier said boat operators would not simply be allowed to repaint and reuse their old boats, as the city wanted new units that meet updated safety standards and complement the lake’s rehabilitated features.

“We will not allow them to return if they just repaint their boats. We want new ones, safer ones and with new designs to match the lake's new features,” Magalong said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency.

He said many of the old boats no longer complied with safety standards and would need to be replaced.

The lake’s reopening therefore represents more than the return of a popular recreational activity. For Baguio, it marks the reopening of a tourism attraction, the return of livelihood for boat operators, and the first glimpse of a broader ₱400-million effort to restore and improve Burnham Park.

As succeeding phases of the rehabilitation move forward, the city hopes the renewed park will continue serving both residents whose livelihoods depend on tourism and visitors who consider Burnham Park a must-visit destination in the Summer Capital.