By Aileen P. Refuerzo BAGUIO CITY –The Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project, a big ticket project similar to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) modern transport hub, is underway in the city. Mayor Benjamin Magalong signs the certificate of successful negotiation with original proponent Megawide Construction Corporation represented by Jaime Raphael Feliciano dated June 28, 2024. The project aims to develop an integrated terminal along Marcos Highway that will cater to provincial buses coming from outside Baguio to serve as passenger transfer terminal to different modes of transportation going into the city. It will be implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program. Pursuant to the PPP guidelines, the project will be presented to the multi-sectoral City Development Council for confirmation and then to the City Council for approval and drawing and adoption of the terms of reference. Afterwards, the project will be opened for a Swiss Challenge where other private companies will be given the chance to submit their proposals also as part of the PPP guidelines. The modern transport hub features dedicated loading and unloading bays for provincial and in-city transport, staging area, passenger waiting area with commercial offering and public parking for park-and-ride. Feliciano said their proposal offers a weather-protected terminal with passenger-friendly amenities that follow the Dept. of Transportation (DOTR)’s integrated terminal standards like 24-hour safety and security systems, person with disability (PWD) inclusive provisions, well-maintained toilets and lactation station, schedule information kiosks, ticket booths and customer service, free internet wi-fi services and baggage amenities. Their proposal also features the following: *Consolidated public utility vehicle modes to make transfers more seamless to different destination points inside and outside the city *Enhanced transport experience seen to lead to a shift toward public transport use; and *High quality facilities for transportation operators like staging areas for repair and cleaning , drivers’ lounge and canteen and electronic vehicle charging.

By Aileen P. Refuerzo BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Benjamin Magalong has backed the move of the Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI) to halt the sale of vape products in the country. “We fully support DTI’s decision to ban online sales of vapes as part of our commitment to protecting our children from the harmful and addictive effects of vapes and other tobacco products,” the mayor said. He said this is “a crucial step in preventing these products from falling into the hands of minors and complements the city’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the health, well-being, and future of the youth.” “In fact, the suspension should remain until online selling platforms and distributors are able to implement robust age verification measures to ensure that sales are restricted to adults only,” the mayor said. The mayor thanked the DTI for the move which the department said is anchored on protecting the youth and prioritizing public health. DTI Secretary Fred Pascual on July 20, 2024 signed Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 24-03, series of 2024 suspending the online sale of vapor products, vapor product devices, and vapor product systems on marketplaces, effective immediately.  This was anchored on Republic Act (RA) No. 11900, also known as the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act which mandates measures to prevent minors from accessing vapor products, particularly through online channels. Pascual said: “The protection of our youth is non-negotiable. The proliferation of vapor products on online marketplaces has made these harmful substances easily accessible to minors, posing a significant threat to their health and well-being. This suspension is a necessary step to curb this alarming trend.” In the city, Magalong said that while cigarette smoking incidence showed a declining trend, vaping has emerged as bigger problem especially since the vice has been attracting the younger population. “We have enforcement and we have programs to promote anti-vaping. Bakit tumataas parin? That is the challenge we are facing today. That is what we have to address and let us think outside the box while changing our strategies. Look at the numbers of people using vape. Almost 80 percent are young people and many of them are students,” the mayor shared during a vape conference last July 19, 2024. The DTI warned that “while it prefers to avoid imposing new regulations, severe consequences will result from non-compliance.” The city government through the Smoke-Free Task Force had been conducting operations to implement City Ordinance No. 34, Series of 2017 or the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance which also regulates the use and sale of electronic nicotine delivery products (ENDS) including vape products. Stores caught selling unauthorized vape products that are violative of the laws like those that sell products that do not contain graphic health warnings and that come in many flavors which are contrary to the law were fined based on the city ordinance.