BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council has called on the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to establish clear guidelines regarding business operations at the Botanical Garden.

This request follows the grievances expressed by concessionaires in the park concerning Lawrence Mendoza, a fellow tenant, regarding his alleged “non-compliance” and “unethical business practices.”

The concessionaires alleged that Mendoza had put up new stalls at the View Deck and rented them out without the approval of the city government. 

Furthermore, they alleged that Mendoza had undertaken excavations beneath his restaurant (Mamita’s), posing potential risks to public safety.

A representative of the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) confirmed that there was no permit issued by their office for the said excavation.

During the regular session of the city council, CEPM officer Rhenan Diwas revealed that Mendoza had additionally been found in violation of operational regulations at his restaurant, Mamita’s.

Diwas explained that, in accordance with Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda’s reminder that all contracts for business operations within parks should be approved by the city council, all lease agreements for public parks in the city (with the exception of Mamita’s) have already been submitted for approval.

Regarding the approval and supervision of ancillary activities and services within all city-administered parks, which may encompass business operations, Diwas stated that Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued an executive order in 2022, for the creation of  a parks management authority consisting of city department heads.

The parks management authority is tasked to formulate and review policies and guidelines for the management of the parks and recreation areas in the city and coordinate the planning and preparation of the overall concept and master plans of all parks and recreation areas in the city.

The parks management authority has been assigned several responsibilities, including the following:

• identifying suitable areas for the Adopt-a-Park Program and reviewing applications from potential adopters;
• overseeing the execution of priority projects;
• compiling and submitting regular reports to the city mayor regarding the status of parks and recreational areas within the city;
• organizing frequent public engagements to promote constituents’ awareness of the aesthetic;
• environmental significance of city parks; and
• various other tasks.