BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Tourism-Cordillera reported that Baguio City accounted for about 72.92 percent of tourist arrivals in the region last year amid prevailing economic pressures, changing travel habits, climate hazards, and sustainability challenges. DOT Regional Director Jovita Ganongan said during the annual assembly of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio (HRAB) themed ‘What’s Next: Sustainable Destination Stewardship for Baguio’s Tourism Economy’, held at the Baguio Country Club, that the region is records 1,586,890 tourist arrivals in 2025, of which 72.92 percent or 429,729.812 chose the Summer Capital as their favorite destination. According to Ganongan, the region has generated over P8 billion in total tourism revenue from the aforementioned foreign and local tourist arrivals. She said the DoT-CAR official continues to conduct extensive efforts in marketing the destination through local and international promotions, digital campaigns, familiarization tours, and participation in major global tourism events where the said initiatives have strengthened the region’s position as a premier and sustainable cultural destination while expanding opportunities for international partnerships. Ganongan pointed out the need to diversify the region’s tourism through creative activities, gastronomy, wellness, community-based tourism, ecotourism, and cultural heritage experiences that are clearly present in different parts of the Cordillera and Baguio City. According to her, there has been significant progress in the destination’s readiness through investments in tourism infrastructure that include over 223 kilometers of completed tourism roads across the region, the rehabilitation of Burnham Park, the proposed Baguio Resilient City Tourism Project, the Love Tourism First Aid booth, expanded public WiFi, tourism accreditation, workforce capacity building and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) tourism recognition received by Cordillera destinations like Tabuk City and establishments like Baguio Country Club and Le Monet Hotel. She also informed HRAB members about the agency’s newly launched campaign, Discover More to Love, which encourages year-round domestic travel and promotes longer stays for visitors through curated tourism experiences. Ganongan called on HRAB members to actively support the aforementioned campaign by developing multi-destination travel packages, promoting Cordilleran cuisine and local products, collaborating with artists and community-based tourism groups, and adopting sustainable practices, emphasizing that the future of tourism will be measured not only by visitor arrivals, but also by the quality of visitor experiences, environmental sustainability, community prosperity, and cultural pride. She challenged local stakeholders in the tourism industry to work together in positioning Baguio as a gateway to richer, longer, and more meaningful trips throughout the Cordillera as the region has much to offer for foreign and local visitors who wish to have a broader experience and enjoy the culture and traditions of the Cordillerans.      

A healthy workforce is the backbone of a thriving community! BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health officially recognized the LGU Baguio led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong through its City Health Services Office – Health Promotion Unit, as Nationally Certified Healthy Workplaces for 2025–2026. DOH expresses that the recognition honors the exceptional commitment to creating safe, supportive, and active work environments that prioritize the physical, mental, and holistic well-being of their employees. “By transforming the office culture, these organizations prove that health and productivity truly go hand in hand.” DOH also thanked the leadership team led by City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes and Health Promotion Officer Rommel De Guzman, human resource officer, and every employee who actively participated in shifting everyday workplace habits toward health and wellness. “Your dedication sets a brilliant example for institutions across the entire Cordillera region”, the DOH-CAR HPU expressed. The DOH Healthy Workplace Recognition stems from the National Policy Framework on the Promotion of Healthy Workplaces (jointly issued with DOLE and the CSC). It evaluates establishments across seven health priority areas, including Mental Health, Diet and Physical Activity, and Substance Use among others.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) General Manager Mark Lapid personally distributed three state-of-the-art Tourist First Aid Booths to the city government led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, during a launch held at Burnham Park, Baguio City, on July 9. The three Tourist First Aid Booths donated by TIEZA is one placed at Burnham Park (in front of the Tennis Court, near the skating rink), the second at Bayan Park and the third at the Botanical Garden. According to Lapid, the first seven of the state-of-the-art Tourist First Aid Booths they purchased, worth P4.7 million each, are the first-of-its-kind emergency booths in the Philippines, with three for the Summer Capital and four for major tourist destinations in the country. “TIEZA is not only focused on growing tourism in the country, but it is also related to providing protection to tourists while visiting the park, as in times of emergency, they can run to a booth, which has a first aid kit, computerized and instructions to be made to call or facilitate the response of the authorities.” Lapid appealed to the public “Do not use the booth for nonsense, do not destroy it, but take care of it, guard it, because it is very important during emergencies.” According to Mayor Magalong, the said booth is connected to the Smart Command Center, so the response to an emergency situation is sure to be fast. “There is CCTV inside the booth, powered by solar panel so it is easy to see who is using it and I will have our Tourist Cops guard it 24/7 to ensure that the area is guarded. Let’s take care of it and use it properly in times of need, because Baguio is very lucky that we are the first and have been given many of these state-of-the-art devices.By Rose Frejane A. Cruz        

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The City Health Services Office has strongly warned parents to keep their children away from processed meats, as they can cause early-stage cancer. Dr. Imelda Degay shared her concerns about one of the most common practices of Filipino parents, packing processed meats in their children’s lunchboxes, now that it’s Balik-Eskwela time. She said these processed meats have long been classified by the World Health Organization as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning they are confirmed to cause cancer. She also said that cholesterol found in animal-based foods contributes to heart disease, the leading cause of death among Filipinos, and that cholesterol accumulation in the blood vessels can begin as early as 2 years of age. She encouraged a shift towards more plant-based food options, especially during celebrations, as high meat consumption also contributes to environmental problems. While balance is still important, with health organizations recommending 3-5 servings of meat per day, being mindful of what we eat starts with the food we feed our children.

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The campaign against the deadly disease Tuberculosis is now being intensified, after 1,241 cases were recorded in 2025 and 231 cases were recorded in the first quarter of this year. Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier issued a Memorandum encouraging public schools, hospitals, and private establishments to light up their buildings with red lights, symbolizing unity and commitment in the fight against tuberculosis while raising public awareness about the disease. According to the World Health Organization, TB is “the deadliest infectious disease known to man”, and the Philippines is in the top three countries with the highest number of tuberculosis cases with approximately 98 Filipinos dying of TB every day.   According to Dr. Donnabel Panes of the City Health Services Office, TB is an airborne respiratory illness that is primarily spread when a person with active TB coughs, sneezes, or speaks.   However, she clarified that TB is not transmitted through sharing utensils, towels, using the same comfort room, or through physical contact, common misconceptions that need to be corrected.   She said that in efforts to strengthen early detection and prevention, the CHSO is conducting a free chest X-ray program, donated by the Philippine Business for Social Progress. Panes reminded the public that TB can affect anyone and that health authorities are working with jeepney, e-jeep, and taxi drivers to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage early detection of tuberculosis. “We are not all at the same risk. The risk is higher for these groups: children, the elderly, diabetics, health workers, those taking steroids and chemotherapy, smokers and vapers,” he also stressed the need to keep our immune system strong, saying that tuberculosis is closely related to how well our body can defend itself against infection. Meanwhile, more than 100 drivers received free chest X-ray services, PhilHealth YAKAP registration, and meals in commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day recently, as part of the city’s efforts to prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB). Panes said, the X-ray caravans help prevent the rise of tuberculosis especially among vulnerable populations like drivers who interact with many passengers every day and advised the public to get tested especially if they are listed in the high risk group. The CHSO also assured that there is no need to worry about the costs, as the office has initiatives in providing free TB testing and treatment.