By Rose Frejane A. Cruz
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed the approved Resolution No.257-2026 of the City Councils on April 7, declaring the city under State of Calamity due to the ongoing oil crisis that has severely affected various sectors of the city.
Magalong stated that the tourism industry has been hit hard, with a 40% to 50% drop in tourist arrivals.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) also confirmed a nearly 30% drop in hotel bookings, resulting in losses for local businesses and livelihoods.
He said the transportation sector has also been greatly affected by the continued increase in the price of petroleum products, with diesel at some stations reaching ₱165.70 per liter, which many drainers were forced to stop at the end of the day, making it difficult for passengers to return home at night.
According to Magalong, with this declaration, the city government can now use the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF) as funding for programs and projects aimed at alleviating the burden of the crisis, such as expanding transport subsidies and ensuring the continuous flow of basic goods.
According to Magalong, he and 49 authorized representatives of transport cooperatives signed a Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) for the implementation of the Emergency Transport Support Program (ETSP), to provide sufficient public utility jeepneys (PUJs) for passengers and reduce long queues at jeepney terminals in the central business district area every night.
Under the program, the city will bear the cost of empty return trips or “backloads” that drivers usually carry under the boundary system.
This is aimed at ensuring that jeepneys return to the central business district to pick up more passengers from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. or beyond if necessary.
He said about 295 jeepney units have been contracted covering 32 routes in the city to pay for their service during the specified hours to ensure that passengers can return home safely from their respective terminals.
ETSP is a service-based support mechanism whereby the city will supply transportation services equivalent to a standardized backload passenger assumption for verified return trips and is the city’s response to the current transportation emergency that is considered an immediate intervention to ensure continued transportation services and is mandated to ensure the overall well-being of residents.
