BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city government has entered into a pioneering accord with private consulting and mentoring firm Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes (AIHO) Inc. to pilot a social contracting arrangement for its public health programs which will initially focus on tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Under the Memorandum of Agreement signed on Sept. 9 by Mayor Benjamin Magalong and AIHO project lead Dr. Zhamir Umag, the two parties will collaborate on a technical assistance project for the city to advance its social contracting efforts to strengthen engagements with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and enhance health service delivery. Social contracting involves governments tapping non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the CBOs to deliver services thereby leveraging the expertise and community connections of these CBOs to effectively reach its target clients. Under the agreement, the AIHO will conduct organizational readiness, organizational capacity and fiscal landscape assessments of the city government; mentor and coach CBOs to enhance their organizational and technical capabilities; and provide assistance in drafting a technical advisory or policy brief on social contracting and support during policy advocacy efforts related to the social contracting. For its part, the city will provide AIHO the needed information and key personnel to facilitate the assessments, capacity building and policy development processes; select and ensure active participation of the CBOs and support the capacity building activities The agreement will be in effect for one year. City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flore Brillantes who will serve as the city’s focal person said the project’s focus will be on TB and HIV, two areas included in the eight-point action agenda or priority programs of the Dept. of Health (DOH). The agenda includes expanding access to TB and HIV screening and treatment for vulnerable populations, aligning with the national goal of ensuring universal access to healthcare.(By Aileen P. Refuerzo)    

By Aileen P. Refuerzo   BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Remember the “Basurahang Taraki” (Baraki) or smart garbage bin invention pitched by college students to the city government last year? The city is set to deploy the first batch of finished products soon in a bid to improve waste disposal practices, according to the General Services Office (GSO) Head Eugene Buyucan. The baraki trash bin features a motion sensor that detects when an individual stands in front of the bin to place trash and allows it to self-open and close. It is also equipped with solar-powered electrical wirings that serve as an alarm system to facilitate real-time monitoring of the fill level ensuring timely collection and reducing the burden of manual surveillance. It has a weather proof design and since it is not designed for mixed waste, has a trash detector to refuse wet items, thereby promoting proper waste segregation. The apparatus was developed by University of the Cordilleras computer engineering students Kyle Rusell Lucero, Aeryk John Mosquete and Samuel Sta. Cruz in 2023 as an innovative invention to help prevent overflowing trash bins. In July 2023, Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the GSO allowed the students to pilot test their invention at the Rose Garden and when proven feasible, the city decided to adopt the technology and provided support to the students to further develop the invention. Two of the students were eventually hired by the GSO last June to undertake the project. Buyucan said four units were fabricated and two are being polished for deployment in strategic places soon.

By Rose Frejane A.Cruz BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – More than five tons of pasta with various flavors prepared by the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Baguio (HRAB) were tasted by the public during their opening ceremony of the 18th Annual Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) Month held at the Atrium of SM City Baguio, on October 2. This year’s HRAB Pasta Festival saw various delicious pasta creations from the association’s famous members, which were tasted by attendees at the occasion. According to HRAB Chairman Jeff Ng, the well-known and popular restaurants and hotels had their own pasta creations from Baguio Country Club, El Cielito Hotel Baguio, Hill Station, Lafayette Luxury Suites, Le Monet Hotel, MV Alabanza Longganisa, Sotogrande Baguio, The John Hay Hotels and Fairways and Greens Bed & Breakfast/The Other Office by Baguio Country Club. The 15 big pans, each with a 28-foot opening, are divided into several slices that measure 5 feet by 14 feet. “The assorted pasta used uncooked weighs about 2,800 kilograms or 5.6 tons when cooked with ingredients can serve 15,000 people,” said Ng. The ingredients are 100 kilos of fresh tuna, 300 liters of olive oil. 300 kilos of Pork Lengua, 150 kilos of chicken, Longganisa (Hamonado,Garlic,Vigan), 50 kilos of Kiniing, 20 kilos of Etag, 500 cans of Spanish sardines, 150 kilos of Cheese, 30 kilos of Pesto leaves, 30 Red Green Pepper each, 120 kilos of nuts, 80 kilos of sundried tomatoes, 20 liters of milk, 10 kilos of lemon, 20 kilos of carrots, 10 kilos of black beans, 20 bottles of oyster sauce and 20 liters of sesame oil. According to HRAB President Anthony De Leon, many events will be held on this occasion, such as the 16th National Food Showdown-Regional, which will be attended by culinary-arts students from various universities. De Leon also introduced the eight HRAB scholars this year from various universities in Baguio and the Cordillera.” HRAB, which started in 2003, has become an affiliate of tourism industry promotions and is strengthening the skills of culinary arts students, not only locally, but also regionally and nationally.”

BAGUIO CITY – “It’s been a long time since I saw each every one of you. Hindi pa ako naging ganito ka-busy sa buong buhay ko. Nais kong humingi ng paumanhin sa bawat isa sa inyo, kung hindi ko magampanan ang aking mga gawain bilang inyong Alkalde ng lungsod. Pagpasensyahan nyo na ho!.” Ito ang mapakumbabang sinabi ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong sa kanyang talumpati sa pagdalo niya sa ginanap na BREEZE ( Brand of Excellent,Extraordinary,and Zealous Employees) Awards 2025, na ginanap sa Camp John Hay, Baguio City, noong Setyembre 26, matapos ang kanyang pagbibitiw bilang Special Adviser ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Ang BrEEZE Awards ay isang espesyal na okasyon na nakatuon sa pagbibigay parangal sa mga pinahahalagahang empleyado ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Baguio, mga retirado, at mga pamilya ng mga yumaong kasamahan na nag-alay ng kanilang buhay sa serbisyo publiko. Ang kaganapang ito ay isang mahalagang okasyon, dahil binibigyang-pugay natin ang mga haligi ng ating gawain. Ang aming mga retirado ng ibinigay sa mga nakaraang taon ng kanilang buhay at serbisyo, Ang mga pamilya ng aming mga yumaong kasamahan. Kaninong Legacy ang patuloy na nagbibigay inspirasyon. Ang aming mga loyalty awardees ay magpapatunay na ang tunay na dedikasyon ay nasusukat ng mga taon Ng matatag na pangako. Ayon kay Magalong, “ang serbisyo publiko ay hindi kailanman madali, Ito ay isang sakripisyo na puno ng maraming katuparan at ito mismo ang aking pinagdadaanan. ngayon. Maniwala ka sa akin ito ay isang bagay na lubhang kakaiba. Ang aking sakripisyo, pagkadismaya at madalas ay iniisip ko ang kaligtasan ng aking pamilya.” “ Kung hindi ko nagampanan ang aking mga gawain bilang inyong alkalde ng lungsod, Ito ay hindi isang madaling gawain, maniwala ka sa akin, Ito ay napakahirap at ito ay lubhang mapanganib din. Labanan ang lahat ng napakalakas na mga tao sa ating bansa ngayon,” pahayag pa ni Magalong. Tinawag din Magalong na ang korapsyon sa infrastructure ay isang cottage industry sector, na isang highly organized,highly syndicated, matapos ang kanyang pagsama sap ag-iikot sa mga flood control projects sa iba’t ibang lugar na kung saan ay umaabot sa P900 bilyong piso ang nasayang mula sa kaban ng bayan. Magalong extended his heartfelt congratulations to all awardess: “Kayo ang embodiment of what it means to serve with excellence, extraordinary dedication, and zealous spirit. Mabuhay kayo, thank you for being the heart and soul of our city government.” Sa kanyang official statement, epektibo noong Setyembre 26, 2025, nagpasya akong magbitiw sa Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Ito ay hindi isang madaling pagpili, ngunit isa sa tingin ko ay kinakailangan. Once and for all, I would like to make it clear na walang conflict of interest sa role ko. Ang aking trabaho bilang Alkalde ng Baguio at ang aking paglilingkod sa ICI ay palaging ginagabayan ng isang prinsipyo: ang pinakamataas na pamantayan ng integridad sa serbisyo publiko. Gayunpaman, ang mga kamakailang pag-unlad ay nagdulot ng pagdududa sa kalayaan ng Komisyon. Ang kalayaan ay ang pundasyon ng pananagutan, at kung wala ito, ang ating kredibilidad ay nakompromiso. Tumanggi akong pahintulutan ang mga pagdududang ito na pahinain ang ICI at ang mandato nito. Kaya naman pinili kong tumabi, hindi para talikuran ang laban, kundi para protektahan ang mismong integridad ng laban. Ang aking pangako sa katotohanan at katarungan ay nananatiling matatag. Sa loob man o labas ng ICI, ipagpapatuloy ko itong krusada laban sa katiwalian na may kaparehong kapasyahan na aking dinala sa bawat laban na aking hinarap: mula Mamasapano, hanggang sa pagsisiyasat ng Ninja Cops, hanggang sa pagtindig laban sa tradisyonal na pulitika, at ngayon sa paggigiit ng pananagutan mula sa mga nandarambong sa pondo ng publiko. Hindi natin dapat pahintulutan ang mga tiwaling pinuno at burukrata sa pulitika na nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak, at higit sa lahat, ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Ang bawat pisong ninakaw sa mga tao ay hindi lamang pagnanakaw. Ito ay isang paaralang hindi natapos, isang ospital na walang gamot, isang tulay na gumuho, at ang pag-asa ng isang bansa ay ipinagkanulo. Ang pinakamalaking kawalan ng katarungan ay ang katiwalian ay nagnanakaw sa mga tao ng kanilang kaligtasan at kanilang kinabukasan. Hindi natin maaaring payagan ang katiwalian na tukuyin ang ating kinabukasan. Dapat tayong manindigan para sa transparency, accountability, at good governance para sa ating bansa, at para sa mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino.                  

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Baguio City and San Antonio, Texas, mark a milestone in their partnership as sister cities with unveiling a replica of the historic Alamo Mission at the Baguio Botanical Garden on September 25, 2025. The Alamo, originally founded in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero by Spanish missionaries, evolved from a religious mission to a military fortress. It is best known for the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, where a small group of Texan and Tejano defenders heroically defended the mission against the Mexican army led by General Santa Anna. Today, the Alamo stands as a historic shrine and museum in San Antonio, symbolizing freedom, resilience, and self-determination. This cultural landmark represents friendships, heritage, and the collective ambition of the two cities. The sisterhood between the two cities was established on June 23, 2023. The partnership was signed by the then San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Since then, the sisterhood blossomed into a significant cultural and educational exchange. One of the first partnership projects was the San Antonio Garden in Baguio Botanical Garden, inspired by the iconic San Antonio River Walk and followed by the large replica of a cowboy boot installation, a recognizable Texan symbol, setting San Antonio’s identity within local heritage sites in Baguio. The most recent addition is an installation of the Alamo Mission, a historically significant landmark representing resilience, courage, and the battle for independence in Texas history. The Alamo, formerly a Spanish mission before becoming a site of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, is a lasting symbol of self-determination. Representatives from Communities Aligning Baguio and San Antonio, Texas (CABSAT) were present, together with city officials and local artists who crafted the installation. CABSAT is a nonprofit organization that manages educational tours, medical missions, and cultural exchanges, strengthening community ties across the two cities. Baguio Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and CABSAT Treasurer Tess Cahigas delivered messages emphasizing their continuous commitment to collaboration, shared identity, and cultural respect. The replica is more than just a monument; it reminds future generations of the importance of unity, history, and international friendship. The sister city relationship between Baguio and San Antonio demonstrates how shared values and history can bridge distances and encourage continuing collaboration. This collaboration builds cultural bridges and provides opportunities for mutual growth and understanding. As Baguio City proudly hosts these Texan historical markers, the bond with San Antonio remains strong, promising a future of joint projects and increased relationships between both thriving cities.( Ramia Yezza De Mesa – SLU intern)  

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) arrested a total of 22 persons and seized suspected illegal drugs as a result of the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) from September 14 to 20, 2025. During the said operations, six Top Most Wanted Persons were apprehended. These include four individuals listed as the 2nd, 7th, 8th, and 9th Regional Top Most Wanted Persons, who were separately charged with Rape and Large-Scale Illegal Recruitment. Additionally, two City-Level Top Most Wanted Persons were arrested for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The arrested wanted persons are classified as High Value Individuals. On the other hand, 14 other wanted persons were apprehended for violation of various penal laws. Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested during the conduct of a separate anti-illegal drug operations that also led to the seizure of suspected shabu. The BCPO remains firm in advancing the priority agenda of the Acting Chief, PNP, PLtGen.Jose Melencio Nartatez,Jr., particularly in enhancing police operational management and sustaining the campaign against illegal drugs, loose firearms, and terrorism. BCPO City Director PCol. Ruel Tagel emphasized that these efforts are not only aimed at holding offenders accountable but also at protecting the community’s way of life. He further assured that the command will continue to adapt and strengthen its operations to keep Baguio City safe.

By Aileen P. Refuerzo   BAGUIO CITY, Phlippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong has set up a mechanism to strengthen project oversight and address delays and other problems hampering the implementation and completion of locally funded infrastructure projects in the city. In Executive Order No. 90-2025 dated July 28, 2025, the mayor created the Lifecycle Infrastructure Committee (LIC), a body tasked with ensuring transparency, accountability and resilience in the city’s infrastructure projects. The new committee is part of the city’s commitment to the Build Better More Program and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, both of which emphasize anti-corruption safeguards and improved monitoring systems for government projects, according to the mayor. “The LIC will serve as the city’s oversight body for infrastructure, from planning to post-evaluation, ensuring that projects are not only completed but are also sustainable and responsive to community needs,” Magalong said. The LIC will be chaired by City Administrator Vittorio Jerico Cawis with City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Engr. Charles Bryan Carame as Vice Chair and City Budget Officer Leticia Clemente, City Engineer Richard Lardizabal, City Building Official Johnny Degay, City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas, City Planning and Development Coordinator Donna Tabangin and City Accountant Freda Jimenez as members. The LIC will take on the following key tasks: Oversee governance throughout the project life cycle — from conception and feasibility to construction and rehabilitation. Screen and prioritize infrastructure projects funded by the city’s 20 percent Local Development Fund (LDF), using criteria such as social impact, climate resilience, economic return, and gender responsiveness. Issue readiness certifications to ensure projects have completed feasibility studies, engineering designs, and necessary clearances before procurement. Monitor construction progress and resolve issues such as project delays, safety concerns, and utility conflicts. Conduct annual reviews of operations and maintenance, recommending budget adjustments or corrective measures to prolong facility life. Carry out post-project evaluations, including socioeconomic and climate-risk audits, to strengthen future planning. Facilitate stakeholder engagement by consulting with barangays, civil society organizations, utilities, and national agencies. Propose policy measures to institutionalize life-cycle infrastructure management and asset inventory. Magalong emphasized that the LIC will streamline project implementation and safeguard public resources. “Through this committee, we aim to strengthen transparency and accountability in infrastructure development, while ensuring that projects truly address the needs of our citizens,” he said. “The creation of the LIC reflects Baguio’s continuing efforts to pursue sustainable urban growth, improve public service delivery, and enhance the quality of life for residents through well-planned and well-managed infrastructure investments,” he added.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The onslaught of Super Typhoon Nando in Baguio City affected a total of 87 families composed of 416 individuals as of 10:00 pm of September 23, 2025 Of the total affected families, 50 families composed of 239 individuals sought shelter in their barangay halls neighbors or with their relatives and city evacuation centers while 37 families composed of 177 individuals did not evacuate. No casualty but two houses were partially damaged. There were 20 soil erosion/landslide/rockfall incidences cleared by the city response teams and five eroded riprap monitored. There were nine lifelines affected consisting of water, electricity, and telecoms that are now being restored. A total of 17 fallen/leaning trees were attended including five flooding incidents. Total cost of damages is yet to be determined as the Response Cluster of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) continues to work on the ground.