BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Tourism Council (BTC) has introduced a new initiative aimed at supporting the city’s transport industry through the ‘BTC Gasolina Voucher’ (Perks Card) program. This innovative project offers valuable benefits and discounts to drivers and operators of jeepneys, taxis, accredited tourism vans, and school buses.   Led by Wilson Bumay-et Jr., one of the leaders of the BTC Tourism G9 Transportation Sector and the current Baguio Jeepney Federation President, the BTC Gasolina Voucher provides various advantages, including up to a PhP 3.00 discount per liter of diesel or gasoline from partner gasoline stations. Additionally, cardholders are eligible for discounts on oil change services and select products, such as lubricants and maintenance essentials. BTC Chair Gladys Vergara emphasized that the program underscores the Council’s commitment to supporting the livelihoods of transport workers, who are crucial to Baguio’s tourism and daily mobility. “Supporting our drivers and operators is a top priority. With initiatives like the BTC Gasolina Voucher, we aim to help alleviate some of their operational costs while strengthening our partnerships with local businesses and gasoline stations,” Vergara stated. Since its launch, the program has already benefited over 250 drivers and operators, demonstrating its positive impact on the community. To further expand this initiative, BTC will be visiting various barangays throughout November to make it easier for more transport workers to access and enjoy the program’s perks. The BTC Gasolina Voucher is one of many strategic programs implemented by the Baguio Tourism Council to promote economic support and inclusivity across the city’s tourism-related sectors. Through this initiative, BTC seeks to enhance both the city’s tourism experience and the livelihoods of those who contribute to its thriving transport network.  

The Baguio City Mobile Force Company (CMFC), successfully conducted an Educational Visit and Outreach Program in partnership with Barangay DPS Compound, under the leadership of Punong Barangay Ariel Del Monte. Lt.Col. Czymeere Nicanor Valencerina, force commander said the event is part of the “Panag-aywan Iti Kailyan” Program, marked a special celebration for National Children’s Month. The outreach event, held at the Barangay DPS Compound Covered Court, benefited 150 daycare pupils from six neighboring barangays, along with their parents and guardians. As part of the initiative, CMFC distributed essential hygiene kits and school supplies in collaboration with Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Baguio to promote the children’s well-being and support their educational needs. The event was graced by Col. Ruel Tagel, city director, who delivered an inspiring keynote address, emphasizing the crucial role of parents in guiding and nurturing their children. His message underscored the importance of family involvement in child development and safety. The Program highlights included a detailed presentation on police uniforms and their functions, helping children understand the important role of law enforcement in maintaining community safety. This outreach event reflects CMFC’s ongoing commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for children, while also promoting the active participation of families and the community in raising a generation that is both informed and empowered.  

BAGUIO CITY — A 49-year-old male accused of Statutory Rape and violation of RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act) was apprehended in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, on November 13. The arrest was carried out by operatives of BCPO- Police Station 8, CIU, RIU-14, CIDMU, TSC-RMFB 15, CIDG-BAGUIO and Dagupan City Police Station, Dagupan City. He is currently listed as the Number 6 Most Wanted Person at the provincial level by the CIDG-Baguio City for the 4th Quarter of CY 2024. BCPO City Director Ruel Tagel said the arrest marks a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to apprehend individuals facing serious criminal charges and underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies in ensuring the protection of children and the enforcement of justice.

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City was officially honored during the flag-raising ceremony at Baguio City Hall on Monday, November 11, for its outstanding achievement in being named the Grand Winner of the Best Tourism-Oriented Local Government Unit (LGU) at the ATOP National Tourism Pearl Awards which was held in Koronadal, South Cotabato last October. This prestigious recognition underscores Baguio’s exemplary commitment to promoting sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and visitor engagement through innovative programs and collaborations. This achievement is a testament to the unified efforts of the City Tourism Office, led by Supervising Tourism Officer Engr. Alec Mapalo; the Baguio Tourism Council (BTC), chaired by Gladys Vergara; and the Department of Tourism CAR (DOT-CAR), headed by Regional Director Jovi Ganongan. Together, these partners have worked tirelessly to create memorable experiences and uphold the city’s reputation as a premier tourism destination. Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed deep pride in the city’s accomplishments, attributing the success to the collaborative work of various public and private sectors. “This recognition as the Best Tourism-Oriented LGU highlights our shared vision to elevate Baguio as a destination that respects tradition while embracing innovation. Our collective efforts are a reflection of what can be achieved when we work together for the city’s prosperity,” he said. In addition to the highly coveted Best Tourism-Oriented LGU Award, Baguio City was honored with several other accolades, demonstrating its diverse and robust tourism initiatives: Grand Winner,Best Tourism Promotion-Video for the “#BreatheBaguio Video,” directed by Ferdinand Balanag, which beautifully captured the essence of Baguio’s heritage, culture, and natural splendor. First Runner-Up, Best Event Hosting (Local) for “An Enchanting Baguio Christmas 2023,” a holiday celebration that enchanted residents and visitors alike. First Runner-Up,Best Tourism Week/Month Celebration for “HRAB’s 16th Annual HRT Week in Baguio,” a showcase of hospitality and tourism excellence. First Runner-Up, Best Sports Tourism Event for the “Sang-atan BLISTT Bike Festival 2023,” celebrating adventure tourism in the region. First Runner-Up,Best Cultural Festival for the “Gong Festival 2023,” highlighting indigenous traditions and cultural pride. Special Citation for Best Practices on Sustainable Tourism for “Baguio Country Club’s Sustainable Tourism Practices,” the only finalist in the Highly Urbanized City category. Second Runner-Up, Best Practices in Community-Based Tourism for the “Baguio Pony Boys,” honoring their unique contribution to Baguio’s tourism identity. Second Runner-up,Best Tourism Promotion-Brochure for the “#BreatheBaguio Tourism Brochure.” First Runner-Up, Best Institutionalized Program for Culture and the Arts for the “Montañosa Film Festival 2023,” celebrating artistic creativity and community heritage. BTC Chair Gladys Vergara remarked, “The recognition we received acknowledges the dedication and passion of Baguio’s people — from cultural bearers to creative artisans, city staff, and our steadfast partners in the public and private sectors. Together, we work to make Baguio a world-class destination while staying rooted in our heritage.” Looking ahead, Baguio City will have the honor of hosting the next Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention in October 2025. This major event will showcase Baguio’s leadership in tourism innovation, hospitality, and cultural richness, further cementing its status as a beacon of excellence in Philippine tourism.  

BAGUIO CITY — A Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Baguio, led by Mayor Benjie Magalong, and Wilcon Dept Inc., represented by William Belo, was inked on November 7. The MOA expresses the commitment of Wilcon Dept Inc. to support the City in improving the circle or street island located along the stretch of BGH Rotonda through the Adopt-A-Park program. Wilcon Dept Inc. will act as the park’s development partner. Additionally, the volunteer will assist in the park’s preservation, introduce improvements and development projects approved by CEPMO, ensure accessibility, and then finally turn over all accomplishments upon the revocation or termination of the agreement. Meanwhile, the city will exercise its authority to review and approve any programs and projects of the cooperative before its implementation. It will also supervise the execution of these, ensure the preservation and safeguarding of park facilities, allow the temporary setting up of the volunteer’s signage at the location, and enforce existing laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances on the management and operation of City parks. The Adopt-A-Park program allows government and non-government entities to participate in development activities for city parks. Photos by Eunice Tomacder

BAGUIO CITY — A 36-year-old male individual, identified as the Top 8 Most Wanted Person in the City of Baguio, was arrested during a coordinated police operation in Bulaoen East, Sison, Pangasinan on November 7, 2024. The operation was carried out by the joint forces of the City Intelligence Unit (CIU) along with the City Investigation and Detection Management Unit (CIDMU), BCPO Police Station 4, Regional Intelligence Division (RID) PRO CAR, City Intelligence Team Baguio RIU-14, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Pangasinan Police Front Unit – Special Action Tracker Team 3, and the Sison Municipal Police Station. The individual, a married resident of Sison, Pangasinan, is facing charges for committing 31 counts of Theft. He was booked in Sison Municipal Police Station and will soon be transported to Baguio City Police Office, where he will face charges filed against him. The Baguio City Police Office, under the supervision of Col.Ruel Tagel,city director, continues to step up efforts to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants as part of its commitment to public safety and public service.                  

By Malou Laxamana – Pascual   Paano mo matatawag na tulong kung balot ito ng pulitika? Naiintindihan ko; ang panahon ng eleksyon ay ginagawang parang campaign poster ang bawat programa ng gobyerno. Ngunit ang isang bagay na tunay kong iginagalang ay tapat, batay sa pangangailangan na tulong. Ibase natin sa katotohanan, hindi sa political maneuvering. Upang matiyak ang patas na pag-access, mahalagang i-sideline ang anumang mga bias na dulot ng bulung-bulungan. Ang mga matibay na pahayag ni DSWD-CAR Regional Director Maria C. Aplaten sa Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) ay dapat maging isang wake-up call sa sinumang sumusubok na sirain ang layunin nito. In her interview, she debuns claims that AKAP is just another politicians’ playground. Sa halip, binibigyang-diin niya ang direkta at malinaw na proseso ng aplikasyon ng programa, na nilalampasan ang impluwensyang pampulitika. Direktang aplikasyon, Hindi pampulitika na paborito Ang paglilinaw ni Aplaten tungkol sa ruta ng aplikasyon ng AKAP ay walang puwang para sa kalabuan. Ang mga prospective na aplikante ay hindi nangangailangan ng “pagpapala” ng mga pulitiko upang makakuha ng tulong; maaari silang mag-aplay nang direkta sa Social Welfare Office, na may mga dokumentasyon at mga grassroots verification checks sa lugar. Tinitiyak ng prosesong ito na ang tulong ay makakarating sa mga tunay na nangangailangan nito, na walang mga pag-endorso o impluwensya sa pulitika. Hindi maaaring i-claim ng mga pulitiko na hawak nila ang susi sa AKAP, at ang mga pag-endorso mula sa kanilang mga opisina ay hindi kinakailangan o priyoridad. Cross-Matching at Verification Si Aplaten ay hindi umaasa sa salita-ng-bibig o pampulitikang rekomendasyon. Ang mga detalye ng bawat aplikante ay sumasailalim sa isang cross-matching na proseso upang kumpirmahin ang kanilang pagiging karapat-dapat, na nagpapakita ng pangako ng departamento sa katumpakan. Ito ay hindi tungkol sa marangyang mga pag-endorso ngunit tunay na pag-verify ng data—isang pananggalang upang maprotektahan ang integridad ng programa. Ang pagbibigay-diin ng Aplaten sa katumpakan ay nangangahulugan din na ang mga kasalukuyang benepisyaryo sa ilalim ng 4Ps program ay hindi karapat-dapat para sa AKAP, na nagpapatibay na ang tulong na ito ay naka-target na dagdagan ang mga pangangailangan ng malapit sa mahihirap. Transparency higit sa Impluwensiya Malinaw ang apela ni Aplaten sa publiko: ang mga tanong tungkol sa proseso ng AKAP ay dapat na direktang pumunta sa kanilang opisina. Hindi na kailangang mag-funnel ng mga katanungan sa pamamagitan ng opisina ng mayor o congressman. Tinitiyak niya sa publiko na ang paghingi ng tulong sa pamamagitan ng mga channel na ito ay hindi tinitiyak ang tahasang pag-apruba. Nandito ang programa para maglingkod, hindi para gamitin bilang political vehicle. Sa pamamagitan ng pagputol ng mga hindi kinakailangang middlemen, hinihikayat ng DSWD-CAR ang transparency at accountability, tinitiyak na ang mga tao ay ganap na alam at may kontrol sa kanilang mga aplikasyon. Debunking the Myth of Political Endorsements Ang mga pag-endorso, lalo na sa panahon ng ikot ng halalan, ay maaaring magdala ng mapanlinlang na timbang. Nais ni Aplaten na malaman ng publiko na habang ang mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan ay maaaring subukang magbigay ng kanilang “suporta,” ang isang pag-endorso ay hindi katumbas ng garantisadong pag-apruba. Umiiral ang AKAP para tulungan ang mga nahihirapang pamilya, hindi para magsilbing political leverage. Ang mga pampublikong opisyal na umaasang mapakinabangan ang abot ng programa ay dapat tandaan na ang pag-endorso ay hindi nakakaimpluwensya sa proseso ng paggawa ng desisyon sa DSWD-CAR. Pagpapanatiling nakatuon ang AKAP sa publiko Ang tiwala ng komunidad ay nakasalalay sa isang malinaw na paghihiwalay sa pagitan ng pampublikong tulong at mga ambisyong pampulitika. Tinitiyak ng diskarte ni Aplaten na mananatiling malaya ang AKAP sa anumang kulay pampulitika. Para sa kanya, ito ay tungkol sa pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga tao nang direkta at may integridad. Inaanyayahan niya ang lahat na dumiretso sa tanggapan ng DSWD, pinatitibay na ang transparency at pagiging patas ay nasa ubod ng AKAP. Bakit ang pananaw ni Aplaten sa Serbisyong Pampubliko ay nararapat ng higit na pagtuunan ng pansin Ang paninindigan ni Direktor Aplaten ay nagbibigay liwanag sa pagkakaiba ng serbisyo publiko at postura sa pulitika. Sa halip na umasa sa mga pag-endorso sa pulitika o tumutugon sa mga kapritso ng mga madla, itinutulak niya ang AKAP tungo sa isang tunay na modelo ng serbisyo—walang kabuluhan, malinaw na suporta lamang kung saan ito higit na kailangan. Ito ay isang tapat na pananaw, isa na humihimok sa mga pulitiko na iwanan ang kanilang mga personal na interes sa pintuan at unahin ang aktwal na kapakanan ng komunidad. Sa buod, ang mga pahayag ni Aplaten ay nagwawalang-bahala sa anumang mga pagtatangka na pamulitika ang AKAP, na nagpapakita na posible ang isang epektibo, walang kinikilingan na diskarte sa kapakanang panlipunan. Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapanatiling bukas sa mga pinto para sa direktang mga aplikasyon, paglilinaw sa proseso ng cross-checking, at pagtiyak na ang mga pag-endorso sa pulitika ay walang epekto, pinapanatili ng DSWD-CAR ang pangako nito sa isang people-first approach.              

By Gaby B. Keith-Baguio PIO   BAGUIO CITY — A local measure “requiring owners/operators of hotels, malls, supermarkets, amusement centers, tourist spots, and other establishments/areas where the public converge to adopt tighter security measures through the installation of closed-circuit televisions (CCTV), use of metal detectors and the like to ensure public safety and providing penalties in violation thereof”, is being implemented. This was the findings of a status report on City Ordinance no. 49, series of 2018, submitted to Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, Oct. 10, by Michelle Dulay, local legislative staff officer 1 based on the information and inputs of the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO), Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and Public Order and Safety Division (POSD), the measure’s concerned/implementing offices. The report suggested that CBAO, in coordination with the BCPO and POSD, be urged to prepare the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the said ordinance and to submit the same to the City Mayor and City Council for approval. It also recommended that the IRR consider the guidelines laid down in the National Privacy Commission Advisory No. 2020-04 (Guidelines on the Use of CCTV systems), particularly on sections 6 and 10 which provides the procedures on how to secure a copy of a CCTV footage from personal information controllers and processors by law enforcement agents conducting investigations. The status report contained the comments, suggestions, and recommendations of the CBAO, BCPO and POSD.    

By JM Samidan-Baguio PIO Baguio City is all set and ready for a creative month this November. Acting City Mayor Benny Bomogao issued Executive Order No. 116, series of 2024 declaring the month of November as the 2024 Ibagiw Baguio Creative Festival enjoining community support and promulgating guidelines. This will be the seventh staging of the Ibagiw Creative Festival with the theme, “Inquisitive. Disruptive. Creative.” The Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) in joint sponsorship with the city government through the City Tourism Office will manage the month-long activity pursuant to the designation of Baguio City as a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts since 2017. A press conference to launch the Creative Month will be held on Nov. 4 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center followed by an opening gala on Nov. 8 at the same venue. Several art exhibits and installations featuring local artists, folk arts and crafts were interspersed for the whole month including gastro-art crawls, art and craft bazaars, cultural and creative shows, and Creative Sundays at Session Road with busking activities among others. This year highlights the inclusion of children and the youth in creative arts with the Crafts and Folk Arts Competition – Kids Edition scheduled on Nov. 15-16 at SM City Baguio; and, the Curiosity: 2nd Asian Festival Children’s Content Circle Philippines at the Baguio Convention Center on Nov. 21-23. Awarding ceremonies called Anido Night will be on Nov. 23 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. But activities will continue up to the first week of December with the Dap-ayan E.5 Malikhain Traditional and Digital Painting on Nov. 26-27 at 237 Avenue by GAV Bldg, Upper Bonifacio St., cor. Holy Ghost Proper. The 8th Madeko Kito will take place at UP Baguio from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1; Barangay Placemaking Challenge will be held Nov. 29 at the University of the Cordillera; the DOT Art in the Park will be from Nov. 29 to Dec. a at Sunshine Park; and the World Ikat Textiles Symposium will wrap up the activities from Dec. 3-6, 2024 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center. As a UNESCO Creative City, the city government is mandated to foster cooperation with and among 246-member cities recognize creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development in the fields of design, film, gastronomy, literature, music, media arts, and crafts and folk art.