Protect Baguio’s Legacy: Stop the Destruction of Our Heritage Landmarks 

To the City Government of Baguio, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Department of Tourism,

We, the undersigned community members remain alarmed regarding current dangers to the historic landmarks of Baguio City. The historical sites of Mansion House and Baguio Cathedral together with Burnham Park and others continue to be important testimonials of the shared heritage of Baguio city that stems from American colonial times through modern day history.

The historical sites face permanent alternation or destruction because of the growing demands of urbanization together with the rising tourism industry and uncontrolled development. The cultural heritage of the Philippines depends heavily on the historical value of Baguio thereby safeguarding its landmarks represents a defense of our national identity. Past time has come to save Baguio's heritage from disappearing.

The Key Challenges Facing Baguio's Heritage Preservation:

• Baguio faces uncontrolled development through rapid urbanization and unregulated development which creates excessive growth while high-rise buildings and commercial activities endanger physical heritage sites together with historical landmarks.
• Illegal building projects together with unauthorized waste dumping have invaded protected areas thus causing injury to natural coastlines and historical buildings.
• The Baguio Cathedral along with the Convention Center suffer from deterioration because the sites lack investment and suffer from poor maintenance practices.
• The cultural value combined with historical significance of Baguio is dwindling because of deforestation together with illegal mining and quarrying activities.
• The population of Baguio along with its visitors lack a proper understanding about protecting heritage sites which results in insufficient care and weak protective measures

We respectfully call upon the relevant authorities to take immediate action by implementing the following measures:

1. Immediate Preservation Efforts: Heritage sites require increased regulatory measures that prevent their destruction or development by inappropriate means. The authorities must block commercial development which seeks to damage the authenticity of these historical sites. The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 10066) mandates significance heritage property protection throughout the Philippines through its provisions.
2. Maintenance and Restoration: Consistent investments should be dedicated to preserve and rehabilitate both historical landmarks located in Baguio. Global heritage sites need scheduled preservation work and renovation to extend their lifespans says NCCA (2020). 
3. Heritage Conservation Committee: A committee must be established as the guardian of heritage preservation in Baguio through membership from historians alongside urban planners and local leaders who work with community representatives. The NCCA together with the National Museum of the Philippines should maintain active involvement to verify the national standard compliance of conservation techniques.
4. Public Awareness and Education: The organization should create awareness programs to inform both local residents and tourists about why historical sites in Baguio need protection. Organizations should develop school initiatives and community events combined with tourist materials to display the cultural heritage value of the city. The programs align with objectives established by the Heritage Education Program as promoted by the NCCA.
5. Tourism Management: Natural cultural landmarks need sustainable tourism approaches as part of protecting their original state. The city implements governing standards to control tourist site populations while maintaining heritage protection through a positive tourism impact on Baguio's cultural heritage. Given the importance of cultural heritage protection the Philippine Department of Tourism implements sustainable tourism practices (Department of Tourism, 2021).

We, the undersigned, believe that Baguio’s legacy should be preserved and celebrated. We want our city to remain a place of cultural pride, historical significance, and natural beauty. Allowing unchecked development to destroy our heritage landmarks would be a disservice to future generations and erase the unique identity that makes Baguio a beloved destination.

We call upon the local government, national authorities, and all concerned citizens to stand with us in protecting Baguio's heritage and ensuring that our landmarks remain untouched and respected for years to come.