The Department of Tourism – Cordillera Administrative Region, led by Director Jovita A. Ganongan, proudly participated in the kick-off ceremony of the 38th Cordillera Month celebration, held to mark the beginning of a month-long tribute to the rich culture, resilience, and unity of the Cordilleran people. This year’s theme, “𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒂,” highlights the collective commitment of the region to work together toward a more inclusive, empowered, and sustainable future. The kick-off ceremony, on July 1 in Baguio City, gathered various regional line agencies, local government units, indigenous peoples’ groups, and civil society organizations, all united in honoring the enduring spirit and shared aspirations of the Cordilleras. DOT-CAR joins the celebration in recognition of the vital role tourism plays in preserving cultural heritage, strengthening regional identity, and fostering economic development. As the celebration unfolds, DOT-CAR remains committed to promoting the Cordilleras as a model of cultural pride and sustainable tourism, while supporting efforts that protect the region’s heritage and empower its communities.      

By Pigeon Lobien and Primo Agatep   The Commission on Elections Second Division last June 21 lifted the suspension of proclamation of Rep. Eric Yap and ordered the provincial board of canvassers to proclaim him as winner of the May 12 elections. Yap had been the subject of cases filed before the Comelec barring him from being proclaimed even after he won the election by more than 85,000 votes. The three page decision signed by Commissioner Rey Dulay noted that Yap’s position as Representative has been given due course and as a result ” the suspension of the proclamation of respondent Eric G. Yap is here by lifted. The Provincial Board of Benguet is here by directed to reconvene and proclaim respondent Eric G. Yap as the duly elected Member of the House of Representatives for the Lone District of Benguet.” The decision signed also by Commissioners Nelson Celis and Noli Puno noted that petitioner Franklin Tino wanted Yap’s certificate of candidacy (COC) be cancelled due to the congressman’s citizenship. Tino alleged that Yap is not a natural born Filipino adding that Yap should not be qualified to seek said office. The commissioners said that the “petitioner has utterly failed to discharge this burden.” They wrote “Not a single of documentary, testimonial or circumstantial evidence has been adduced to support his claims against the respondent.” They added in the case docketed as SPA No. 24-206 (DC) that “petitioner failed to prove that respondent deliberately committed material misrepresentation as to his qualification when he indicated in his COC that he was a natural born Filipino citizen.” Gov. Melchor Diclas, vice gov. Mary Rose Fongwan – Kepes and the new provincial board will be inducted on Monday at the Capitol where Yap is expected to attend. Last June 6, a manifesto signed by some 36,000 Benguet residents was filed by a group led by Gary Abela with the Comelec asking that Yap be proclaimed.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Municipality of Bakun has emerged as the top winner in the 2025 Benguet Roadside Beautification Program during the awarding ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol in La Trinidad, Benguet on June 25, 2025. Newly-elected Vice Governor Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes, as representative of Gov. Melchor Diclas, congratulated the winners during the awarding ceremony. In her message, she requested that this program be continued and the beauty of the road environments in the province be maintained, so that it becomes a beautiful sight for traveling motorists. Bakun’s winning entry featured a beautifully maintained stretch along the Governor Bado Dangwa National Road from Sinipsip to Liwang Section of Barangay Gambang, and from Malikliko to Giswak Section of Barangay Ampusongan. Bakun received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of ₱100,000.00. The second place was awarded to the Municipality of Buguias for their roadside beautification along Halsema Highway in Barangay Bangao. Barangay Bangao accepted a plaque and ₱90,000.00 in prize money. Mankayan secured third place with a plaque and ₱80,000.00. Barangays Abiang and Cuba represented their municipalities, Atok and Kapangan, respectively, earning fourth and fifth places with cash prizes of ₱80,000.00 and ₱70,000.00. Other municipalities also received cash prizes and certificates of recognition for their efforts in enhancing the roadside landscapes. Special awards, each worth ₱5,000 and a plaque, were presented to the following municipalities: Sablan for Most Sustained Roadside Landscape Kabayan for Best in Social Media Kibungan for Best in Partnership & Networking Atok for Best in Focal Area and Landscape Kapangan for Best in Mural All 13 municipalities participated in this year’s Benguet Roadside Beautification Program, showcasing their commitment to environmental stewardship and community pride.    

To safeguard its cultural heritage, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Mountain Province passed Provincial Ordinance No. 573, which prohibits all souvenir shops, garment stores, and online sellers in the province from manufacturing, distributing, or selling machine-made replicas of Cordillera indigenous woven materials and apparel in Mountain Province. The ordinance emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional handwoven textiles—an integral part of Cordillera identity and livelihood. Violators will face escalating penalties, a reprimand for the first offense, confiscation of items on the second, and confiscation plus permit cancellation for subsequent violations. Approved on June 2, 2025, the ordinance affirms the province’s commitment to protecting the authenticity and integrity of indigenous weaving. (PIA Mountain Province)

Local Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities in the municipalities of Sablan and Tuba, Benguet are scaling up organic farming and enhancing irrigation with the help of royalty shares from Hedcor’s run-of-river hydropower operations. Royalty shares are fair compensation given to IPs for the use of their ancestral land and resources. Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of Aboitiz Renewables Inc. that operates 22 run-of-river hydropower facilities; nine of which are located in Benguet. The Company adheres to free, prior and informed consent in providing the royalty shares, ensuring direct and tailor-fitted benefits. In Sablan, the Pahnga ni Sabdang Indigenous Peoples Organization (PASIPO) received ₱2.2 million in royalty shares to support agricultural and livelihood development across eight barangays. “The initiative will focus on the propagation of fruit-bearing trees, upgrading traditional tapuey (rice wine) brewing and broom-making enterprises, and establishing a composting facility to advance organic farming methods,” said PASIPO President Lilian Balangue, noting how these would help boost crop production and generate sustainable income. Meanwhile, in Tuba, the Tagadi-Aguyao Indigenous Peoples Organization (TAIPO) received over ₱250,000 in royalty shares to help address water supply challenges and reduced crop yields through investments in irrigation, free-range poultry, and materials such as greenhouse plastic sheets and anthurium nets. “These upgrades will help improve productivity and provide a more stable supply of food within the community,” explained TAIPO President Anita Madarang. “Hedcor’s partnership with the indigenous communities in Benguet — the ‘Salad Bowl of the Philippines’ — continues to focus on sustainable farming, food production, and responsible use of natural resources,” added Aboitiz Renewables First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Business Unit Noreen Vicencio. “We recognize the value of supporting long-term projects that reflect community priorities and help improve quality of life.” Companies within the Hedcor Group are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Aboitiz Power Corporation through Aboitiz Renewables. Through the royalty shares generated from its facilities, Hedcor supports corporate social responsibility programs that promote inclusive development within its host communities, connecting clean power generation with practical, locally-led initiatives.            

CAMP DANGWA, Benguet – Two hundred police trainees successfully graduated from the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC), marking another milestone in their journey towards becoming full members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The police trainees under the MASALIBTAK Class 2024-01 were awarded their certificates, which was held at Camp Bado Dangwa, attended by high-ranking officials led by Regional Dirctor Brig.Gen. David Peredo, Jr., on June 14. As a highlight of the ceremony, three police trainees received Certificates of Merit for their exemplary performance in the course, namely Pat Rhodwil Cabbigat – 91.82%; Pat Ge-ann Palangyo* – 91.73% and Pat Diego Culhi* – 90.55%. The NPTI Director Leadership Awards were also presented to Pat Zielya Yagonda Dinamling, as Class President, and Pat Warren Ballestra, as Battalion Commander. Peredo commended the graduates for their hard work, discipline, and perseverance and encouraged them to carry the lessons of leadership and public service as they move on to the next phase of their training. Following their completion of the PSBRC, the graduates will now undergo a six-month Field Training Program (FTP), a practical, on-the-job training phase where they will apply their classroom learning to real-life law enforcement situations. Successful completion of the FTP will qualify them for permanent appointments as members of the PNP. The new batch of recruits represents not only additional strength for the police force, but also a renewed commitment to public safety, discipline, and community-oriented policing throughout the Cordillera region.

Rachel Angela Valencia Baday was crowned Ms. Tabuk City 2025 in the province of Kalinga, Cordillera Administrative Region, during the grand coronation night held tonight at the Tabuk City Gymnasium. Rounding up the top 5 of the pageant are: Ms. Tabuk Tourism Sheena Vail Gonayaon Lingbawan Ms. Tabuk Agriculture Kimberly Jireh Lemi Pigao 1st Runner-up Arriane Cagaid Lammao 2nd Runner-up Rio Beth Agabas Alcanzarine 📸Fuji Sakai

  Various stakeholders in Kalinga have started taking action to address concerns regarding the full operation of the Kalinga Pasalubong Center (KPC) in Talaca. Plans are underway to electrify the building to make it fully operational. The Chamber of Tabuk City–Kalinga Producers, Inc. (CTCKAPI) reported on the center’s current operations and proposed an action plan for improvements, including better facilities and enhanced marketing of local products. A site validation was conducted to finalize development plans. Kalinga Tourism encourages all travelers passing through Talaca to stop by the center to enjoy the view, drink local coffee, and support Kalinga-made products.

By: Laarni S. Ilagan   The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) marked a crucial victory on June 3 as the Philippine Senate approved on second reading House Bill No. 10483, which seeks to renew BENECO’s franchise for another 25 years. Cheers and quiet celebrations filled the BENECO South Drive office as the Board of Directors, led by Chairperson Atty. George Dumawing, Jr., and office-based employees monitored the Senate proceedings via livestream. The passage of the bill on second reading—considered one of the most critical stages in the legislative process—boosted hopes for the measure’s final approval in the coming weeks. “If you hurdle the second reading, the third reading will be easier,” said Dumawing, underscoring the significance of this legislative milestone. House Bill 10483 grants BENECO the authority to continue operating and maintaining its electric distribution systems in Baguio City and the 13 municipalities of Benguet: Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay. The franchise renewal has been a top priority for BENECO General Manager Melchor Licoben since 2020, well ahead of the expiration of its current 50-year franchise in March 2028. Licoben, accompanied by BENECO department managers, personally attended the Senate session, while board members monitored it remotely. The measure is the result of consolidated efforts in the lower house, where separate bills filed by Baguio representative Mark Go and Benguet representative Eric Go-Yap were merged into HB 10483. The power bloc representatives in Congress, PhilRECA Partylist Presley De Jesus and APEC Partylist Sergio Dagooc, also helped lobby for votes in the House of Representatives. HB 10483 passed the House in August 2024 with unanimous support—202 votes in favor and none against. “Without our franchise, BENECO cannot continue to serve Baguio City and Benguet province no matter how hard we work to improve our services,” Licoben has often reminded employees in their monthly assemblies. Despite the positive development, Dumawing urged cautious optimism, reminding employees to keep celebrations muted until the bill clears the third reading and secures the President’s signature. Senator Rafael Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, endorsed the bill’s approval with minor, mostly clerical amendments. Dumawing expressed confidence that the bill would not face significant opposition. “We hope the BENECO franchise gets the Senate’s final nod before the end of the current Congress. It’s part of a batch of bills—including those related to education—that the Senate may soon transmit to the President,” he added. Dane Ducayag, president of EC-MCO United Inc.—a SEC-registered organization of BENECO’s member-consumer-owners (MCOs)—hailed the Senate’s move as a major win for community-driven energy. “This is a significant victory for member-consumer-owners. It reaffirms the role of electric cooperatives in empowering rural communities and fostering inclusive economic growth,” Ducayag said. Longtime BENECO supporter Beng Garcia, national convenor of Ilaw Philippines, echoed the sentiment: “We MCOs are happy the BENECO franchise has passed the second reading. We’ve remained watchful throughout this long process and continue to fully support our BENECO.” With just one more Senate reading and the President’s approval remaining, the cooperative and its stakeholders are now cautiously optimistic that BENECO’s legacy of reliable, consumer-oriented energy service will continue for decades to come.