BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  – Instead of the usual advice to do good or prove yourself, Mayor Benjamin Magalong asked student grantees to be watchdogs against corruption or any wrongdoing in their assigned areas.

Magalong led the swearing-in of about 151 grantees of the 2026 Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) on April 13.

“If you see or know of any illegal activity or transaction, do not hesitate to report it to me. My office is open to receive you,” he told the students during a simple induction program.

According to Magalong, during the one-month tenure of the students in the city government, they can gain first-hand experience in the work systems of various departments.

Based on this experience, they will be able to tell whether or not City Hall is worthy of its status as a model of quality service and good governance, he said.

“Through you, we will know if we are worthy of our ISO 9001:2015 certificate and reputation for good governance. Above all, we also count on you to tell us whether or not there is corruption in our offices,” Magalong told the students.

The city achieved its recertification to ISO 9001:2015 after passing a recent external audit conducted by third-party auditor SGS Philippines Inc.

The auditing firm confirmed that the city’s processes and services continue to meet the standards of the Quality Management System (QMS) and maintain its dedication to quality service, which led to the awarding of the ISO certificate on April 13, 2026.

The SPES grantees are the first of two batches of student workers to be employed in the city this year through the Public Employment Service Office of the City Mayor’s Office.

The next batch of 149 students will begin their positions next month.