By Aileen P. Refuerzo   BAGUIO CITY — The city government will launch this month the Local Incident Gathering Tool for Alerting Safety or LIGTAS, an online hazard communication tool that aims to hasten reporting of and response to dangerous situations that may lead to disasters. City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Charles Bryan Carame said incidents like soil erosions, unstable slopes, clogged canals, damaged utility posts, fallen trees or any other hazard may be reported to the online LIGTAS link to be assigned to facilitate quick response. QR codes will also be posted in barangay halls, schools, and key public spaces. “With this tool, we aim to provide residents with a technology driven platform to notify authorities of potential disasters in their own communities,” Carame said. But more than just being a hazard reporting tool, LIGTAS serves as an avenue for the community to get involved in addressing environmental hazards and preventing disasters before they happen. “LIGTAS is not just an incident report form, we intend it as a movement. Through LIGTAS, every resident can be part of keeping our city safe and disaster-ready,” Carame said. “Help us prevent disasters before they happen. Your report can save lives. Your participation matters. Together, we build a more resilient, alert, and empowered Baguio City,” he added.

By Rose Frejane Cruz   BAGUIO CITY — The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that 19 soil erosions, landslides, and rockfalls occurred during the heavy rains of Typhoon Crising, which resulted in the downfall of 14 old Pine trees and some of them hit power poles, causing many brown-outs in various areas of Baguio City. “The rains here are really heavy and based on the reports we got from different weather stations and PAGASA, we have received more than 300 millimeters of rains in the past three days and considering that for the past one month we have had continuous rains, our ground has been saturated, so we had 19 soil erosions during the typhoon,” said Mayor Benjamin Magalong. He said there were four relatively large erosions, but they are not life threatening. “We have ten partially damaged houses and ten fallen Pine Trees, one sinkhole in Barangay Dominican, one totally damaged vehicle that was hit by a large rock. The good news is that we have no injuries or fatality, except for a dog that was hit by a rock in Camp 7.” Meanwhile, Magalong has issued a class suspension in all levels from public and private schools, including government work, tomorrow, July 23, based on Memorandum Circular No. 90 issued by the Office of the President. Heavy rain is expected due to the southwest monsoon and the formation of two low pressures, which could potentially turn into a full-fledged typhoon in the coming days.

By Laarni S. Ilagan   Severe Tropical Storm Crising, intensified by the southwest monsoon, caused an estimated P1.165 million in damage to the infrastructure of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) to date, disrupting power supply across parts of its service area. As of 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 22, BENECO reported significant damage to several components of its power distribution network. Three transformers—two in Tuba, Benguet (Tadiangan and Tabaan) and one in Apugan, Irisan in Baguio City—were damaged, amounting to P509,196.78. An additional P655,933.66 in losses came from 14 downed electric poles, including associated lines and protective devices. Consumers under four feeders (7, 8, 9, and 10) connected to the North Sanitary Camp (NSC) substation experienced the most severe power outages during the storm’s peak. By 10:00 a.m., full power had been restored to all barangays in Baguio City, with only a few isolated households still experiencing outages or low voltage issues. In Benguet, restoration efforts were also underway, with the town of Bokod reporting the lowest recovery rate at 78 percent. Other municipalities reached between 92 and 100 percent restoration. Total households restored at 97.2%, according to the Emeregency Response Team of BENECO. BENECO deployed additional linemen and equipment from its South Drive headquarters to support affected areas, particularly in far-flung municipalities where local contractors were initially mobilized. According to BENECO, most of the pole-related damage was caused by soil erosion and fallen trees brought about by continuous heavy rainfall. “Exercise utmost safety when working with our lines,” BENECO General Manager Melchor Licoben reminded field workers. “As much as we want to restore power immediately, we must prioritize everyone’s safety.” Licoben also urged BENECO employees to offer prayers for the ongoing restoration efforts and called on office-based staff to assist by providing updates to consumers.

BAGUIO CITY – Nahaharap ngayon sa kasong kidnapping with rape ang isang 35-anyos na instructor ng isang unibersidad sa lungsod kaugnay sa umano’y pagkidnap at panggagahasa sa isang 14-anyos na Grade 10 student noong Hulyo 9. Ayon sa Baguio City Police Office, matapos ang masusing imbestigasyon ay ipinasa na nila ang kaso sa tanggapan ng City Prosecutor’s Office noong Hulyo 14, habang ang suspek na kanilang nadakip ay nasa kustodiya ng PS 10 at ililipat sa Baguio City Jail kapag nakumpleto ang mga dokumento. Sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, sinabi ng dalagitang si Jessica (hindi tunay na pangalan), na naglalakad siya patungo sa paaralan sa tabi ng Baguio Wright Park Fountain, Barangay Lualhati, dakong alas-8:20 ng umaga noong Hulyo 9, nang huminto sa kanyang harapan ang isang hindi kilalang sasakyan. Ayon sa biktima, inakala niya na kilala siya ng driver, kaya siya ay lumapit sa sasakyan, subalit bigla umano siyang hinablot ng suspek at tinakpan ng panyo ang bibig at ilong na naging sanhi ng pagkawala niya ng malay. Nang magising siya ng alas-10 ng umaga, siya ay nag-iisa sa isang hindi pamilyar na silid sa isang lodge sa Bakakeng Central na hubo’t hubad. “She felt pain on her private parts and her legs are shaking. She dressed and went out of the room, (walked along the highway) and called her class adviser who then contacted Police Station 3 then coordinated with PS 10,” police said. Mabilis na nagsagawa ng follow-up investigation ang mga tauhan ng PS10 at natukoy ang pagkakakilanlan ng suspek na humantong sa pagkakaaresto nito.

BAGUIO CITY – Nawasak ang isang barong-barong na bahay at isang kotse matapos magulungan ng malaking bato na gumulong pababa mula sa bundok patungo sa kalsada habang kasagsagan ng malakas na ulan sa may Kennon Road, Camp 7, Baguio City, dakong ala 1:15 ng hapon ng Hulyo 19. Ayon kay Charles Bryan Carame, officer in charge ng City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, walang naiulat na nasakta sa insidente, dahil walang tao young bahay, maging ang sasakyan nang gumulong ang malaking bato, maliban sa isang aso na exotic bully ang namatay sa insidente. Kasalukuyan ay ginagawan ng paraan ng Baguio City District Engineering Office at mga barangay officials para maalis ang malaking baton a nakapatong sa nawasak na sasakyan. Ang kaso ay isinangguni sa Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office para sa tulong sa mga apektadong may-ari ng ari-arian. Nanatiling sarado ang kahabaan ng Kennon Road, dahil sa “continuous rockfall sa may entrance ng rockshed. Patuloy din ang ginagawang pang-monitos ng CDRRMC, sa pangunguna ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong sa naiulat na insidente sa iba’t ibang lugar, gaya ng pagguho ng lupa sa barangay ng Purok 2 Poliwes, pagbabantay at paglilinis ng mga basura sa City Camp Lagoon, upang maiwasan itong bumaha at paglilinis sa mga punong natumba na nagdulot ng mga brown-out sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lungsod. Zaldy Comanda

BAGUIO CITY — The Summer Capital was hailed as among the safest cities in the country for travelers according to the website World Travel Index (WTI) for midyear 2025. Baguio City scored a high of 73.99% placing seventh place. Ranked first was Dumaguete City – 81.36; second was Davao City – 80.73; third was Bulacan City – 76.42; fourth was Balanga – 76.15; fifth was Lucena City – 75.24; and, sixth was Naga City (CamSur) – 75.02. On the eight place was Puerto Princesa – 71.46 followed by Legazpi City (Albay) – 71.34 in ninth place and Makati City – 70.41 in tenth place. Accordingly the WTI assesses cities based on: crime statistics (day/night safety); public service responsiveness; theft and drug-related incidents; and, traveler reviews including AI-driven safety mapping. “This ranking provides both data-driven and experience-based insight, helping travelers choose cities that go beyond beauty — places where they can truly feel secure,” the WTI stated in its website numbeo.com. The survey ranked 1,132 cities globally. Overall, WTI suggests that cities in the Gulf region and Southeast Asia are among the safest in the world, with Abu Dhabi leading the global rankings. By JM Samidan– Baguio PIO        

By JM Samidan-Baguio PIO   BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong asked for understanding amid public clamor for the declaration of class suspension in view of incessant rains being experienced in the past days brought about by monsoon rains or ‘habagat.’ He said the new circular from the Department of Education No. 22, series of 2024 on class and work suspension puts decision-making to school heads and school division superintendents during heavy rainfalls. “Under the DepEd circular, it appears that the school’s division office is to recommend for class suspension to the local government unit during heavy rainfalls,” Magalong said. The challenge now for DepEd is for them to be adept at analyzing weather forecasts including rainfall. “Hindi ganun kadali na magkansela ng klase at nasanay ang mga tao na si Mayor ang nagdedesisyon at mag-analyze ng data. This time, I leave it to DepEd based on their order,” he said. The mayor monitors at least seven weather forecasting platforms and had to call the school division office as well as heads of universities to confer before deciding on class suspension. “The latest announcement on class suspension should be made by 10PM because from my personal perspective, it would be hard for the student to prepare if the announcement is made late at 6AM.” The mayor also awaits recommendations from the members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) prior to suspension of classes during inclement weather conditions.        

By Zaldy Comanda   BAGUIO CITY — Magkasunod na dinismis ng Office of the Ombudsman ang mga kaso na isinampa ni dating City Councilor Mylene Yaranon laban kay Mayor Benjamin Magalong. “Patunay lamang ang malinis at tapat nating hangarin para sa ikauulad ng ating lungsod, ang pamamahala natin sa ilalim ng Good Governance ay mananatili nating ipapatupad, ang transparency at integridad.” Ito ang pahayag ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong, matapos matanggap noong  Hulyo 9.2025 ang desisyon mula sa Office of the Ombudsman. Matatadaan, noong Abril 24,2024 ay nagsampa ng dalawang kaso si Yaranon laban kay Magalong, na inaakusahang sa paggawa ng mga kriminal at administratibong paglabag sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto na may titulong Construction/ Improvement/ Rehabilitation of Multipurpose Buildings including Facilities at Irisan Barangay Complex, mula sa  P50-million government-funded infrastructure project sa Irisan Barangay Complex. Ang 33-pahinang Joint Resolution na nilagdaan ni Maria Olivia Elena A. Roxas, Chairperson ng Special Panel of Investigators, na may pagsang-ayon mula sa Office of the Ombudsman sa pangunguna ni OIC Dante F. Vargas, noong Pebrero 18,2025 at ipinalabas noong Hulyo 9,2025, ay walang nakitang probable cause ang Ombudsman para kasuhan ang alkalde at nagdesisyon na walang sapat na ebidensya para panagutin siya sa kasong administratibo. Sinabi sa reklamo ni Yaranon, na si Magalong ay lumabag sa mga batas sa hindi wastong paggamit ng pampublikong pondo, pagkuha ng gobyerno, at pagpapatupad ng proyekto, kabilang ang malversation, graft, at hindi pagsunod sa mga panuntunan sa pag-audit at pag-bid, at sinabi rin niya na binalewala ng lungsod ang mga pambansang alituntunin sa pamamahala ng mga kontrata sa imprastraktura. Nagsampa si Yaranon sa Ombudsman ng mga kasong administratibo para sa grave misconduct, gross negligence, at conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. Ayon pa sa reklamo, ang proyekto umano ay dumanas ng hindi magandang pagpapatupad, hindi awtorisadong variation order, at construction deviations na lumabag sa mga tuntunin ng Memorandum of Agreement ng siyudad sa DPWH. Mariing pinunana din nito ang paggawad ng proyekto sa lungsod sa Khatib Construction, na umano’y may mga isyu sa iba pang mga proyekto, tulad ng Wright Park at Lualhati Project. Subalit, nilinaw ng resolusyon na tanging ang proyekto ng Irisan ang nasa ilalim ng pagsusuri at ang iba pang mga proyekto ay tinukoy lamang bilang background. Ayon sa Ombudsman, sa masusing pagsusuri ng mga dokumento at argumento na iniharap, nabigo si Yaranon sa kanyang reklamo na may criminal liability o administrative wrongdoing si Magalong. “Kahit na sa pag-aakalang may mga depekto sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyekto sa paksa,” ang nakasaad sa resolusyon, “ang Tanggapan na ito ay walang nakitang ebidensya na ang sumasagot na si Magalong ay naudyukan ng anumang masamang layunin o maling layunin sa pagsasagawa ng kanyang mga opisyal na tungkulin.” Iginiit ng Ombudsman na ang mga depekto sa proyekto, hindi pagkakasundo sa pagitan ng mga implementing office, at naantalang dokumentasyon ay hindi awtomatikong nagpapatunay ng katiwalian o maling pag-uugali. Nabanggit nito na walang pagpapakita ng hayagang pagtatangi, maliwanag na masamang pananampalataya, o labis na hindi mapapatawad na kapabayaan. Ang kasong graft sa ilalim ng Section 3(g) ng RA 3019, ay natuklasan ng Ombudsman na nabigo si Yaranon na ipakita kung paanong ang kontrata sa Khatib Construction ay “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the government,” na isang kinakailangang elemento para sa pag-uusig. “Ang maling pagpapatupad ng isang proyekto lamang ay hindi sapat upang magtatag ng administratibo o kriminal na pananagutan sa bahagi ng nag-aapruba na opisyal,” dagdag ng Ombudsman. Ang Irisan multipurpose building project ay ipinatupad sa ilalim ng isang memorandum of agreement sa pagitan ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Baguio at DPWH-CAR, na may inilipat na pondo sa lungsod para sa pagpapatupad. Sa resolusyon, ang mga kasong kriminal at administratibo laban kay Mayor Magalong ay dinisms na itinuturing na pinal at epektibong isinasara ang kaso. Noong Hulyo 11, muling nakatanggap ng desisyon si Magalong mula sa Office of the Ombudsman sa pagkakadismis ng isa pang kasong kriminal at administratibo na isinampa ni Yaranon kaugnay ng pagbili nito ng lupa noong 2023 sa Topinao, Tuba, Benguet. Ang kasong paglabag sa Section 3(e) ng Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) ay isinampa ni Yaranon laban kay Magalong. Sa 19-pahinang joint resolution ng Ombudsman, pinawalang-sala si Magalong sa kasong Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) na isinampa sa kanya ng dating Konsehal. Sa resolusyon, wala umanong nakitang matibay na ebidensiya ang Ombudsman upang panagutin siya sa mga kasong administratibo para sa grave misconduct, grave abuse of authority, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, o paglabag sa Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713). Noong Enero 2023, inakusahan ni Yaranon si Magalong sa pagpasok nito sa isang Deed of Absolute Sale para sa pagkuha ng dalawang parsela ng lupa mula kay William U. Tan Jr. at sa kanyang anak na babae na si Hazel Dominique Tan nang walang paunang awtoridad umano mula sa Sangguniang Panlungsod. Ang mga lote, na may kabuuang mahigit 63,000 metro kuwadrado, ay binili ng lungsod sa halagang ₱95,377,500 para gawing Low Cost Housing Project ng city government. Nabayaran ang nasing lupa sa loob ng 13 araw sa kabila ng alok mula sa mga nagbebenta na nagpapahintulot sa staggered payment scheme. Nangatuwiran ang nagrereklamo na ang pagbabayad ng buong halaga ay nagbigay sa mga nagbebenta ng hindi nararapat na kalamangan at tinanggihan ang potensyal na kita ng interes ng lungsod sa mga pondo. Iginiit din ni Yaranon ang mga isyu sa biniling lugar na kung saan ito ay dalisdis gng lokasyon, kawalan ng pag-aaral ng seismic, kawalan ng proseso ng pampublikong bidding, at mga tanong tungkol sa pagsasama ng ari-arian sa mga plano sa pagpapaunlad ng lungsod. Sa kabila nito, pinasiyahan ng Ombudsman na si Magalong ay talagang isang pampublikong opisyal na nagsasagawa ng mga opisyal na tungkulin, ang iba pang mga elemento na kinakailangan upang magtatag ng kriminal na pananagutan sa ilalim ng Seksyon 3(e) — ito ay ang manifest partiality, evident bad faith, o gross inexcusable negligence — ay hindi sapat na napatunayan.

By Aileen Refuerzo     BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Benjamin Magalong reiterated his appeal to residents and visitors in the city for responsible waste disposal amid the threat of flooding during this typhoon season. “On top of the stop gap measures that the city government has been implementing, discipline remains to be the key to resolving this problem. Please take heart, a single candy wrapper carelessly thrown away can cause a misery to a lot of people. I hope we all realize that,” Magalong appealed. Magalong met with heads of the city’s flood-prone barangays and the City Engineering Office last July 2, 2025 to iron out contingency and mitigation measures to avert flooding during heavy rains and typhoons especially at the City Camp basin. Punong barangays agreed to adopt quick response strategies to maintain the anti-flooding steel screens installed in their jurisdictions to prevent clogging and water accumulation. Garbage remains to be a major contributory as these continue to cause clogging of the steel screens leading to the tunnels at the City Camp lagoon as well as the inlets leading to the main drainage. The mayor has time and again reminded that improperly discarded waste can lead to clogged drainage systems and exacerbate flooding and environmental hazards. “Indiscriminate disposal of wastes can lead to serious consequences like flooding and people have to level up their thinking and their ways in handling their refuse at all times to prevent causing harm to other people and the environment,” the mayor said. “To prevent such issues, we again remind residents and tourists to dispose of trash responsibly by using designated bins and avoiding littering in streets, gutters and waterways. Additionally, ensuring that waste is properly bagged and securely tied helps prevent debris from entering the drainage systems,” the mayor said. “By working together to maintain clean and clear drainage systems, we can mitigate the risk of flooding that endangers lives and properties and further protecting our environment,” he said. General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan said barangays have always been reminded of the waste management protocol during typhoons or rainy days. In anticipation of the typhoons or heavy rains, barangay heads should advise residents not to bring out their garbage and instead keep them properly wrapped and stored within their premises to avoid being scattered or carried by floodwaters into the streets and waterways. Buyucan said the garbage will be picked up as soon as the weather condition improves and immediate coordination will be made with the barangay officials before the pick-up schedule. He said garbage collection during bad weather is suspended for the protection of garbage collectors and waste pickers. He said this usually results in backlogs in the collection but they immediately work them out as soon as they can. Buyucan appealed for cooperation from residents in practicing proper waste disposal and segregation and in following the schedule of bringing out of their garbage as well as the protocol during inclement weather. “Let’s do our part and not leave all the work to our garbage collectors. They are working hard but it would not be enough if we ourselves are not cooperating. Our garbage collectors deserve some dignity and they need our help,” he said.