1.

How does the increase in the influx of tourists here in Baguio City during the holiday season
affect the ecosystem of the city?
Every month of February or every Panagbenga Festival where many tourists from different places
visit Baguio, just to witness one of the fantastic events that are happening once a year which has also
become one of the most awaited and famous festivals in our country. Whenever Panagbenga is
happening, a garbage crisis and air pollution also happen plus the virus we are experiencing right now.
We can observe that during these times, we can see the garbage of people, from the tourists to the one
who is residing from Baguio, in every corner of the city. We can also observe that during this month of
the year, as many tourists come in, there is also a significant amount of nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxide, and hydrocarbons emitted into the air coming from the vehicles that come in and out in the
city plus the virus, but now, our City Government closed our city from different places to avoid the
spreading of the COVID virus which also caused air pollution and infections. Traffics and crowded places
are everywhere. As we can also observe during Holidays, the temperature in Baguio cools down, the
temperature changes and becomes warm from being cold, it is because of the presence of a lot of people.
There have been some of the major challenges that Baguio City is experiencing most especially during
Holidays. While we gain profits from the tourists, we expose and show what we have, from the tourist
spots that we have, from the shows that we prepare which reflect the culture and tradition that we
practice, our ecosystem is struggling. People are enjoying the shows that are happening during
Panagbenga, while our nature is struggling because of the pollution and infections they create and brought
to us locals. Our ecosystem is struggling from the pollution that we create, just because of our lack of
discipline when it comes to managing our garbage. We didn’t realize that we are putting our ecosystem at
an expense in return for our happiness, which should not be the case. We should be responsible, from the
tourists to the residents of Baguio by enjoying the time we are spending during the holidays and also by
being mindful of our garbage and health. We should learn how to clean and leave the place we’ve been
through. We should put into practice the values we have which is “what you see from the time you
arrived at a certain place should be the same as when you leave”. We should respect our ecosystem and
protect it while having fun, for that will bring and lead all of us into true happiness.