BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City Jail – Male Dorm reported that the facility houses some two hundred thirty eight persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with a congestion rate of around 54.9 percent as of September 5, 2025 which is much lower compared to the same period last year. The Baguio City Jail – Male Dorm said that the reduction of the congestion rate is an encouraging indicator of the effectiveness of the facility’s rehabilitation programs and the collective efforts of the Bureau of Jail management and Penology (BJMP) to create pathways for the re-integration of PDLs into mainstream society. Further, violations of the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 remain the most prevalent crime committed as it accounts for 119 PDLs or 50.2 percent of the total jail population in terms of case distribution. The Baguio City Jail – Male Dorm was also able to maintain its status as a drug-free jail facility through the continuous support of the BJMP’s partner agencies such as the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of the Interior and Local government (DILG). Moreover, the facility was able to record zero incidents of escape, riot, noise barrage, or violence from the second quarter of 2025 to date. Jail officials expressed their gratitude to the local government for its unwavering support, particularly through the annual funding of the unit’s programs, projects and activities for the upliftment of the welfare of the PDLs detained in the facility. Among the notable contributions of the city are the donation of a brand new Toyota Hi-Ace commuter van on July 31, 2025 and the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the new Baguio City Jail in San Luis held recently made possible through a usufruct agreement that will ultimately reduce the facility’s congestion rate to zero percent once completed. During the celebration of the 34th BJMP-CAR anniversary recently, the Baguio City Jaile – Male Dormitory was awarded Best City Jail of the Year, while the incumbent City Jail Warden, Jail Chief Inspector John Waylan M. Lapon was recognized as the Best City Jail Warden of the Year. The Baguio City Jail – Male Dormitory claimed that the recognition would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the local government which itself was recognized and awarded a plaque of merit during the said anniversary celebration. (Baguio PIO)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – City Councilor Vladimir Cayabas has proposed an ordinance institutionalizing a support and assistance program for nano-enterprises. This measure aims to provide technical training, financial grants, and registration support to help the city’s smallest businesses sustain operations, expand, and contribute to inclusive local economic growth. The proposed ordinance recognizes the nano-enterprises’ vital yet often overlooked role in the local economy. According to Cayabas, unlike micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), nano-enterprises are extremely limited in resources, typically operating with only up to P30,000.00 in capitalization and often run by self-employed individuals such as food cart vendors, sari-sari store owners, street food sellers, repairers, and other small livelihood operators. Because many of these enterprises belong to the informal economy, Cayabas stated they lack access to loans, subsidies, and government support programs. By providing a formal system of assistance, the proposed ordinance aims to empower these entrepreneurs, protect them from exploitative lending, and help them gradually transition into the formal economy. Under the proposed measure, support will come in the form of technical assistance, training, capability development, and financial grants. Technical aid may include help with business registration, legal advice, and other interventions tailored to the specific needs of each enterprise. Capacity building programs will cover training on financial management, marketing and branding strategies, entrepreneurial leadership, and re-skilling to adapt to market changes. In addition, qualified nano-entrepreneurs will be eligible for a one-time financial grant of up to P30,000.00 intended strictly for business sustainability or expansion, subject to evaluation of feasibility through a business sustainability or market expansion plan. The ordinance also proposes the establishment of a Nano Enterprises Registration System/Portal to formally enlist all nano-enterprises in the city. This portal, to be maintained by the Permits and Licensing Division, will serve as a centralized compendium and gateway for access to government programs, subsidies, and grants. Through systematic mapping, the city government will be able to design targeted interventions and track the progress of nano-entrepreneurs, ensuring that assistance is responsive to their evolving needs. To oversee its implementation, a Screening, Monitoring, and Assessment Team (SMAT) will be created, headed by the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer (LEDIPO). The SMAT will evaluate applicants, release grants, monitor beneficiaries, and recommend policy improvements. It will also coordinate with government agencies, business groups, and people’s organizations to strengthen partnerships and linkages that can benefit nano-enterprises. For its implementation, the ordinance earmarks an annual budget of P6.5 million from the city’s general fund. Aside from grants, these funds will cover consultations, summits, research, and other initiatives aligned with the program’s objectives. The proposed ordinance has been approved by the city council on first reading and referred to the Committee on Market, Trade, Commerce, and Agriculture for review. (Jordan G. Habbiling)      

 BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Representatives of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance–Kalinga (CPA–Kalinga) filed a petition at the NCIP Regional Office, on September 15, demanding the immediate cancellation of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) applications for DPJ Engineers’ Upper Tabuk Hydropower Project (UTHP) and JBD Water Power Inc.’s (JWPI) Saltan Dams. A dialogue with NCIP Regional Director Roland Calde followed, where he revealed that the Saltan Dam projects FPIC processes have already been terminated and that the UTHP is up for similar termination. “This is a victory for the Kalinga tribes threatened by these development-aggression projects. We welcome the NCIP’s decision and hope that other opposed projects will meet the same fate. We will remain vigilant and expect more decisive action in the coming days,” said Juan Dammay, Chairperson of CPA–Kalinga. “The failure of the FPIC process to proceed is the result of sustained protests by affected communities over the years. The NCIP’s termination is long overdue, and those projects still up for termination should be cancelled immediately,” added CPA spokesperson Ned Tuguinay. JWPI’s terminated projects include the 49-MW Saltan D and 45-MW Saltan E along the Saltan River, a tributary of the Chico River. However, other renewable-energy and large-scale mining projects continue to threaten Kalinga, often accompanied by intense militarization. Among these is the 200-MW Abra-Kalinga Wind Farm, also by JWPI, which poses an urgent threat to the municipalities of Balbalan and Pasil in Kalinga, as well as Malibcong, Licuan-Baay, and Daguioman in Abra. Geothermal projects of the Aragorn Power and Energy Corporation would affect the municipalities of Lubuagan, Pasil, and Tinglayan. Placed alongside large-scale mining applications, these projects leave the province of Kalinga facing severe threats. CPA continues to call for the cancellation of these projects and for the genuine recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. “Development should be self-determined. None of these projects are intended to address the lack of basic social services in the Cordillera, contrary to the promises of their proponents. They are all designed for profit. We have seen how much money is lost to corruption. These funds should have been spent on essential services. So-called development projects should never be used as a condition for the provision of those services,” Tuguinay concluded.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Mayor Benjamin Magalong has strongly denied the rumors circulating that he has resigned as Mayor, after he was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., as special adviser and investigator to the independent commission investigating corruption in the government’s flood control program. “I did not resign. I remain your duly elected Mayor, fully committed to serving our city of Baguio. Although I am part of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to help look into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, this will not affect my mandate as Mayor. My primary duty and priority remains the people of Baguio,” Magalong said. He said that as a public servant and citizen, his duty is clear and he will remain true to his promise to serve the community with honesty and responsibility. “When we stand by these values, we create a stronger and more trustworthy Baguio for all.” It can be recalled that PBBM selected Magalong as Special Adviser and Investigator, trusting that from over 38 years of investigative experience with the Philippine National Police (PNP), he brings a proven track record in handling high-profile cases, including leading the Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigation into the Mamasapano incident. Trained in crisis management and hostage negotiations with the FBI, his expertise reinforces the commission’s mandate to pursue the truth with rigor. As Special Adviser and Investigator, Magalong will not serve as a formal member of the commission, but will provide assistance by submitting documents and evidence independently gathered in his work. This role allows him to lend his investigative expertise without compromising his primary responsibility as Mayor of Baguio City, where he remains committed to hands-on leadership and good governance. According to Magalong, he accepted this responsibility with the same values ​​he upholds in Baguio: accountability, transparency, and integrity in governance. He asked for support in his renewed commitment to fairness and integrity. “Every investigation must be guided only by the truth and the best interests of the people; impartial, guided only by accountability and transparency.”          

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – “Start the week with courage and integrity: values that drive us not just in our work, but in our duty to fight for our country.” Mayor Benjamin Magalong, said that social activism is part of civic action and a reminder that standing up against corruption is standing up for the people. “Here in Baguio, we ensure that our city remains a safe space where voices calling for accountability, transparency, and good governance are heard and protected.,” Magalong  said. “Together, let us keep the fire of integrity burning and lead the way to a just and honest future,” he added. Earlier, the Mayor joined the Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korupsyon Protest Rally at Malcolm Square, standing in solidarity with the people’s call for transparency, accountability, and good governance.-Gaby B. Keith with reports from CMO Socmed team

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The City General Services Office (GSO) said that residents and businesses in the city produce around five hundred fifty tons of mixed waste daily that makes solid waste management one of the local government’s primordial concerns that needs varied solutions. GSO head Eugene Buyucan said that some 300 tons of the city’s generated waste are collected, 100 tons are recyclables and the remaining volume is being managed by the big companies operating in the different parts of the city. He admitted that there is an increasing volume of generated waste in the city because of the continuous increase in people migrating from other places and businesses wanting to operate in the urban center. However, the GSO official claimed that with the ongoing strict implementation of segregation at source, the sorting of the recyclables among other strategies, the volume of the residual waste being hauled out of the city will continue to decline. Buyucan disclosed that for this year, the local government earmarked some PhP192 million for the hauling and tipping fees that will be paid by the city in the disposal of the residual waste in identified solid waste facilities in the lowlands. According to him, the closure of the Capas engineered sanitary landfill in Tarlac and the temporary setback suffered by the landfill in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan nearly had a great impact on the city’s resources for hauling. However, the city government department head stated that concerned officials were able to negotiate with the management of the Porac engineered sanitary landfill in Pampanga and the operator of another landfill in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan that allowed the city to maximize the use of its available resources to continuously haul the residual waste and properly dispose of the same. Buyucan rallied the residents and business owners to strictly comply with the regulations that had been imposed on the disposal and collection of their generated waste to ensure the maintenance of cleanliness and orderliness in their barangays and avoid the piling up of garbage in their respective areas. Further, he said that the city always ensure that the garbage being brought out by the people during the collection schedules in the designated pick up points will be immediately collected except in some few cases that the city’s garbage trucks will be encountering technical concerns that might cause temporary delays. (BaguioPIO)              

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — During a courtesy visit to Baguio City Mayor Benjie Magalong, Mayor Benjamin LL. Cuaresma III of Bambang, Nueva Ecija formally presented a resolution expressing the unified intent of all League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Nueva Vizcaya Chapter members to join the Mayors for Good Governance Movement. He was represented by his Municipal Administrator Lopito Lloyd Valdez. The resolution reflects the chapter’s collective commitment to uphold integrity, transparency, accountability, and citizen-centered governance. Municipal Administrator Lloyd also conveyed Mayor Cuaresma’s strong interest in aligning with the movement’s advocacy, recognizing Mayor Magalong’s exemplary leadership as a model for effective and principled public service.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Benjamin Magalong served as a keynote presenter and panelist for Tier 1B Local Government Unit Partners participating in the European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership initiative, Aug 27, in Quezon City organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines. Concurrently, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDSO) contributed as a panelist during the comprehensive Deep Dive session focused on Portfolio Development for the Green LGUs Project. CPDSO Head Donna Tabangin said Baguio, alongside other participating LGUs, showcased its comprehensive efforts and innovative approaches in sustainable urban development, climate adaptation measures, and green economy transition initiatives. The city emphasized its commitment to environmental stewardship and its role as a model for sustainable local governance practices within the broader framework of the EU-PH partnership’s objectives for promoting green economic transformation at the city level, she said.-Gaby B. Keith

By Rose Frejane A. Cruz   BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – A 2nd-year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology student at the University of the Cordilleras was crowned as Miss Baguio 2025 during the Coronation Night held at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, on September 6. Janela Andal Recio,22, of Trancoville Barangay, who is among the 12 candidates who participated in the search for Miss Baguio 2025, has the title of Miss University of the Cordilleras 2024 and Miss Galiacayo Camilliana 2025. Along with Recio who was crowned are Mikaela Coloma Lazaro (Bakakeng SLU SVP), Miss Baguio Creative 2025; Zyra Mae Carbonell (Bakakeng Norte/Sur) – Miss Baguio Kultura 2025; Precious Faith Mirasol (Brookside)- Miss Baguio Kalikasan 2025 and Brynne Cessary Bayang (Middle Quirino Hill), as Miss Baguio Tourism 2025 and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation Baguio Ambassador. Those who received minor awards were Miss Social Graces: #10 Trinity Samantha Lacanlale, of Brgy. Dontogan; Darling of the Press: #7 Brynne Cessary Bayang, of Brgy. Middle Quirino Hill; Best in Creative Costume: #2 Precious Faith Mirasol, of Brgy. Brookside; Best in Talent: #8 Zyra Mae Carbonell, of Brgy. Bakakeng North/South; Best in Swimwear: #11 Janela Recio, of Brgy. Trancoville; Miss Courage: #6 Yvonne Jill Llobrera, of Brgy. Pucsusan and Miss Photogenic: #4 Elisha Lare De Castro, of Brgy. Upper Quezon Hill “The City of Baguio proudly celebrates the newly crowned Miss Baguio 2025.Janela’s journey reflects the true spirit of a Baguio woman that is strong, compassionate, and inspiring. May her reign open doors to new opportunities and allow her to shine even brighter as an ambassador of culture, talent, and community,” said Galadys Vergara, chair of the Baguio Tourism Council.