Baguio City, Philippines – The Summer Capital has long been known for its towering pine trees, cool climate, and rich cultural identity. However, as the city continues to grow and modernize, the conflict between urban development and environmental preservation has become a growing topic of discussion among residents.
This clash of perspectives resurfaced following a recent social media post by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, in which he urged residents to embrace progress and change.
“Hindi dapat manatili sa parehong estado ang kaunlaran. Sa pagdating ng mga bagong henerasyon, kailangan nating yakapin ang progreso at pagbabago upang patuloy na umunlad ang ating lungsod,” Magalong stated in a Facebook post.
The mayor stressed that development should not remain stagnant. He emphasized that proper planning, innovation, and responsible development are key to providing hope for future generations.
“Kung nais natin ng mas maayos na kinabukasan para sa ating mga anak, mahalaga ang mga desisyong ginagawa natin ngayon. Nawa’y magsilbing paalala ang Lunes na ito na ang tamang pagpaplano, inobasyon, at responsableng pag-unlad ang susi sa isang komunidad na may pag-asa at oportunidad para sa susunod na henerasyon,” he added.
After the Baguio City Public Information Office shared an article about the mayor’s statement, the comment section was filled with various reactions from residents expressing concerns over what they see as the gradual erosion of the city’s natural identity.
While some agreed with Magalong’s perspective, others pointed out that modernization has slowly come at the expense of the city’s natural environment and cultural character.
Some residents emphasized that true progress for Baguio should not be measured by the number of high-rise buildings, commercial establishments, or tourism projects, but by how well the city preserves its natural environment—rather than becoming similar to other highly urbanized cities.
“Mayor...kasama po sa pag-unlad ng Baguio ang unti-unting pagkawala ng mga puno at halaman kung saan kilala ang Baguio talaga...hindi sa buildings na nagtataasan....Mayor, kung maibabalik mo ang totoong ganda ng Baguio, malaking bagay po ito sa amin....maraming puno, maraming halaman, maturuan ng tamang kalinisan sa kapaligiran ang turista, and so on....hindi namin po kailangan ng mga establishment kung mawawala naman ang mga halaman...we miss old Baguio, Mayor....yung talagang malamig na klima, fresh air, hindi matraffic, hindi mausok, at yung fog kada umaga at hapon,” Aki Mhe commented.
Others recalled a time when Baguio had lighter traffic, fresher air, thicker fog, and more disciplined tourism. Their comments reflect a growing fear that continued development could permanently alter what makes Baguio unique.
“Progress and change doesn't mean that we need to be like cookie-cutter tourism cities. The identity and the landscape of Baguio are being drastically changed. I would love for the city to progress and change for the better but not lose its identity,” Libuo Buyagan added.
This tug-of-war between the city local government unit’s (CLGU) vision and public sentiment is not new.
It can be recalled that the city’s proposal to rehabilitate the aging Baguio Public Market in partnership with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) previously faced strong opposition from residents—particularly vendors—due to environmental and cultural concerns.
While the LGU regarded the project as an essential upgrade to the old facility, heritage advocates and vendors worried about the “mallification” of the historic market. Earlier this year, SM Prime Holdings formally withdrew its unsolicited proposal.
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