BY: JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR

Engineer Isabelo “Poppo” Cosalan Jr. laid out his plans for governance as he seeks a congressional seat in Baguio City during the Baguio Leaders’ Forum held on April 21.

In his opening remarks, Cosalan thanked Baguio residents for electing him five times as a city councilor, where he served for a total of 15 years.

“I offer myself to you saying I cannot for another three more years. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve,” he said.

Bringing his experience from the city council, Cosalan addressed key concerns affecting the city, including the need to revise the Baguio City Charter.

“We need to look into the problems we have as a highly urbanized city. Our city charter, originally from 1909, was revised in 2022 but was vetoed by President Marcos. We now have a defective charter that we must address,” he explained.

Cosalan also pointed out the worsening effects of urban decay in Baguio, citing challenges such as traffic congestion and water shortages.

As the only engineer among the congressional candidates, he highlighted the importance of technical expertise in addressing these urban issues.

“To solve the problem of urban decay, we need to apply the BLISTDA concept of development,” Cosalan said, referring to a regional approach that includes Baguio and surrounding municipalities.

He concluded by expressing hope that the forum gave the public a clear picture of his platform, which focuses on people, land, and good governance.