By Zaldy Comanda BAGUIO CITY – Pinangunahan mismo ni His Excellency Bishop Rafael T. Cruz, ng Our Lady of Atonement (Baguio Cathedral) ang inagurasyonsa isang makasaysayang mural sa harapang- bakod mismo ng Bishop House, Barangay Kabayanihan, Baguio City, noong Enero 31. Ang ika-44 mural project ng Sin-Agi Artists ay naglalarawan ng hindi bababa sa tatlong hanay ng mga pigura, na ang una ay ang Baguio Cathedral na may pari at malaking pulutong ng mga tao, isang grupo ng mga lalaki na may dalang bahay at mga kabataan na nagtuturo sa mga matatanda ng paggamit ng modernong mga gadget. Ayon kay City Counselor Leandro Yangot, Jr., kabilang din sa Sin-Agi Artists at tinaguring “Mr.Murals”, na ang tatlong set ng mga imahe ay naglalarawan sa pagdating ng mga paring Katoliko mula sa Belgium na nag-ebanghelyo sa mga taga-Baguio at Cordillera noong unang bahagi ng 1900s. Ang pangalawa aniya ay ang barangay na nakuha ang pangalan nito mula sa halaga ng Filipino ng bayanihan o ang pagkilos ng pagtulong sa kapwa. Ang pangatlo ay ang papel ng mga kabataan ng nasabing barangay sa paglabas ng halos 30 metrong mural. Ayon kay Yangot, nakita niya angmalaking pader sa harapan ng Bishop House na sakto para lagyan ng murals, kaya’t agad siyang nakipag-ugnayan sa Barangay Kabayanihan sa pamumuno ni Punong Baragay Eladio Ortenero at hinikayat ang mga kabataang artists para pintahan ito. Ang Sin-Agi Artists ay itinatag ng Yangot noong Disyembre 2022 at noong Enero 2023 ay sinimulan ang proyektong mural ng Legarda Road sa harap ng Europa Condominiums at ang grupo ay nagtungo sa iba’t ibang barangay kung saan nagsimulang umangat ang mga mural upang gawing “tunay na malikhaing lungsod” ang Baguio. “ Isa lang masasabi ko sa mural, “Excelllent”, dahil napakaganda at may kasayasayan ang murals na lumalarawan sa Kristyanismo. Nagpapasalamat sa ating mga talentadong kabataang arists at higit sa lahat sa mga barangay officials na nag-proyekto ng sidewalk canopy sa paligid ng compound, na malaking tulong sa tao na hindi mabasa sa panahon ng tag-ulan,” pahayag ni Bishop Cruz.    

The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) and the Ambassadors of the EU Member States in the Philippines paid an official visit to Baguio City for the first time jointly to get acquainted with the City and to explore opportunities for further collaboration.     During their visit, on January 27-29, the Ambassadors met with local government officials led by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, civil society representatives, academe and the press.   They also visited EU funded-projects on green economy, justice coordination and children’s rights, as well as Baguio City’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Command Center, the Quezon Elementary Library HOB (Hooked on Books), and the Mansion House.     EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro said that: “We are pleased to visit Baguio City jointly for the first time. We like to thank the Baguio City government as well as the officials and representatives from government agencies, NGOs, civil society organisations and the press, for the very warm welcome. We also like to acknowledge the strong commitment of the city government and partner institutions, and civil society organizations to good governance and to green inclusive growth”.    The envoys visiting the city include Ambassadors Massimo Santoro, European Union; Dr. Titanilla Tóth, Hungary; Michel Parys, Belgium; Raduta Dana Matache, Romania; Ioannis Pediotis, Greece; Dr. Johann Brieger, Austria; Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, Denmark; Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Germany; Marie Fontanel, France; Ričardas Šlepavičius, Lithuania; Karel Hejč, Czechia; Davide Giglio, Italy;  Emma Hickey, Ireland; Saija Nurminen, Finland; Nicholas Panayiotou, Cyprus; Ambassador-designate Anna Ferry, Sweden; Chargés d’affaires ad interim Ms Anna Krzak-Danel, Poland; and Mr. Dragan Barbutovski, Slovenia.     The partnership between the European Union and the Philippines has evolved and intensified during the last 60 years, from development cooperation and humanitarian aid, to a wide range of areas nowadays, including for example green economy, space, security, and of course, education.    The EU-Philippines’ bilateral relationship is growing even stronger under an all-encompassing Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation that the EU and the Philippines concluded in 2018.    This Agreement provides an enhanced legal framework, enabling both the EU and the Philippines to strengthen the bilateral relation on political, social, economic, and security matters, based on common interests but also shared principles and values, such as our common commitment to multilateralism and adherence to the international rule of law. This commitment has become all the more important in the context of the current geopolitical challenges.   During the press conference at The Forest Lodge on January 29, EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro explained why Baguio chose to visit.” First, it is important for us as Ambassadors to go out of Metro Manila and to experience and get first-hand information about the situation in other parts of the country. And we knew about Baguio being a city that emphasizes good governance, digitalization and environmental sustainability, as well as a seat for academic excellence and for a vibrant and creative civil society. I think our visit has confirmed those assumptions, which make the reputation of the city.”   “Also on behalf of my colleagues, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Magalong and other city hall officials and to civil society interlocutors for their warm hospitality, frank sharing of experiences, and incredibly well run logistical assistance that have made this visit possible. It is not easy to receive such a big group as ours, the Ambassadors and Chargés d’affaires ad interim of 17 EU Member countries, out of a total of 27 EU Member States, including some Ambassadors who are based out of the Philippines and who flew to the country primarily for this occasion.”   He said, “We had a very productive discussion with Mayor Magalong and his team, where we learned more about the city’s policies. This was complemented by a visit to the Command Center of the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. We also visited the Green LGUs project, which, as you may know, is being supported by the European Union. We were happy to see that Baguio City’s priorities very much reflect the priorities of the EU in those two critical areas.”   Notably on green economy, the European Union is implementing a Green Economy program in the Philippines in support of the Philippines’ transition towards a green economy and green growth, including circular economy, reducing waste, renewable energy and research.   EU Ambassador Massimo Santoro said they allocated PhP3.6 billion to this program. “However, together with several of our Member States and financial institutions, we expect to mobilize another PhP28 billion under what we call a “Team Europe” approach. This is part of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.”   Under the Green Economy program, the project that they visited on Monday aims at enhancing circular economy practices by the Local Government Units in collaboration with the private sector and the civil society.   Baguio has been selected as one of the first ten cities for the implementation of this project, which will be extended to up to 60 Local Government Units in the coming months.   We have also had the opportunity to visit another two projects of the European Union in Baguio and the Cordilleras: one which aims to support national efforts to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labor, including online sexual abuse or exploitation of children and violations of acceptable working conditions; and another project that is part of our support to the Philippines Justice sector, notably to the inter sectoral coordination through Justice Zones, one of which has been established in Baguio.    

By Jordan G. Habbiling-SP-PIO   With the first case of Mpox reported in Baguio City, a seven-year-old proposed ordinance, once enacted, could help keep the numbers to a minimum. Amid rapid urbanization and the constant influx of tourists that could exacerbate the spread of emerging and re-emerging diseases, a proposed Sanitation Code has been reintroduced to tackle challenges on public health. The proposed ordinance creating the Sanitation Code of Baguio City is sponsored by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda. It was approved by the Baguio City Council on second reading on January 13, 2025 and is set to be published soon in a local newspaper. In an interview, Tabanda said certain provisions of the original proposal, particularly those addressing regulations for massage spas, fitness centers or gyms, accommodation establishments, public restrooms, and other spaces frequented by the public, will be “tweaked” to make them more responsive in addressing emerging and reemerging diseases such as Mpox. In addition to addressing the city’s ongoing health challenges, Tabanda said the proposed Sanitation Code aims to unify and localize all relevant health and sanitation laws to serve as a practical reference and guide for the city government in enforcing these regulations. Serving as the current chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Health, Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection, Tabanda explained that the first draft will definitely undergo several changes to accommodate comments and suggestions both by the citizens and her fellow city council members. The proposed Code is set to undergo a series of public consultations to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to give comments and recommendations for the enhancement of the proposal. The initial draft was crafted by Engr. Charles Carame, the former head of the Environmental Sanitation Division of the City Health Services Office (CHSO). In an interview, Carame said the proposal started in 2018, but its legislative progress was stalled due to various factors including pending actions by previous sponsors and COVID-19 restrictions. The Environment Code of Baguio City, a landmark ordinance enacted by the Baguio City Council in 2016, served as a foundation for the proposed Sanitation Code. While the Environment Code addresses a broader range of issues on environment, the proposed Sanitation Code seeks to specifically target health and sanitation-related policies. Aside from the Environment Code, the city government relies primarily on Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Code on Sanitation, for the implementation of sanitation-related regulations. However, this national law is deemed outdated, with some provisions no longer applicable to the city. Therefore, there is a pressing need for Baguio, a highly urbanized city, to adopt its own Sanitation Code that is tailored to address its unique needs and circumstances. Furthermore, there are existing local ordinances that align with the provisions of the proposed Sanitation Code. By consolidating these local and national laws into a single Code, the city government will be more efficient and consistent in implementing sanitation policies. The devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent emergence of Mpox have underscored the urgent need for the swift enactment of the proposed Code. Once enacted, it will serve as a preventive tool against emerging and reemerging diseases in the city. Codified regulations on health and sanitation are outlined across 28 articles and 104 sections under the proposed ordinance. These include requirements for water supply systems, food and non-food establishments, markets, laundries, schools, industrial and public facilities, and various service-oriented businesses such as nightclubs, beauty parlors, and massage clinics.   There are also certain regulations in the proposed Code that address specific public areas such as public transport, camps, and swimming pools. These regulations set standards for hygiene, waste management, and safety. Additional provisions focus on environmental health including sewage management, waste disposal, vermin control, and the handling of health care and animal-related waste. With the first case of Mpox in the city, the urgency of enacting the proposed Sanitation Code has become a priority. By enforcing unified health and sanitation standards in various settings, these regulations under the proposed Sanitation Code could intensify the city government’s efforts in preventing the spread of emerging and reemerging diseases and enhance the community’s resilience against future outbreaks.