BAGUIO CITY July 20 – President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified House Bill (HB) 5343, the bill seeking the establishment of an autonomous region in the Cordillera, as an urgent administration measure alongside the proposed enhanced Bangsamoro autonomous region bill for appropriate action by the members of the 17th Congress.

Speaking before more than 120 Cordillera leaders who attended the meeting with him Tuesdaynight at the Malacanang Palace, the President recognized the need to devolve more powers of the national government to the local government units, including the autonomous regions to be established, greater control of resources by the host communities, and the implementation of more development projects in the countryside to ensure that the people will reap the fruits of genuine development and not be left behind in their growth and development.

Close to a hundred disaster operatives from various emergency groups and agencies join the Baguio media in an Eco-Walk tree planting activity in remembrance of those who perished in the 1990 killer earthquake at the Busol watershed last July 16. The annual memorial rites is part of the activities of the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration in the city. -- Photos by Stephanie Trinidad

A city hall employee tries to protect Councilor Arthur Allad-iw while others perform the duck, cover and hold stance during city hall-wide earthquake drill which pushed through inspite of a drizzle.- By Bong Cayabyab

BAGUIO CITY July 21 – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan expressed his full support to the extension of the declaration of martial law in Mindanao as per the request of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to suppress lawless elements, rebellion and terrorism that poses a serious threat to the country's security.

The local chief executive underscored that those who are knowledgeable on the prevailing situation on the ground are the military and the police, thus, the decision whether or not to extend the martial law will emanate from them because they are aware of the details of the progress of their efforts to curb the threats to the country's internal security.

Cordillera communities at a loss on how to deal with influential power companies harnessing their water resources for renewable energy generation may well learn to negotiate for benefits offered by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) to Buguias, Benguet in its first hydro power generation project.

Topping the benefits accruing to the community, the Buguias municipal government will eventually co-own the three-megawatt (3,000 kilowatts) Man-asok hydroelectric plant being built at Sebang, Buguias to the tune of P451,143,461.

BAGUIO CITY – All security guards, officers and consultants assigned in any workplace in the city will now be required to undergo local orientation trainings on emergency or disaster response, traffic direction and control and crime or incident reporting.

This is by virtue of Ordinance No. 69 series of 2017 or the "City Orientation Training Ordinance for Security Guards of 2017" authored by Councilor Peter Fianza and approved by the city council on third reading.

Fianza said the ordinance will put in place "the mechanisms to properly define the role of security guards" in assisting policemen in the maintenance of peace and order and protection of life and property and in cases of emergencies and disaster.

BAGUIO CITY July 20 – President Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered Public Works Secretary Mark Villar to work out the funding for the completion of major infrastructure projects in the different parts of the Cordillera amounting to some P5.2 billion.

The President gave the directive to Secretary Villar at the close of the meeting of the Cordillera leaders with the Chief Executive at the Malacanang Palace Tuesday night which drew a loud round of applause from the local officials.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet July 19 – The National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) wants local government units around the country to create their local councils for culture and arts to help in preserving and protecting the rich culture and heritage of the people in various parts of the archipelago.

Speaking before the huge crowd that gathered at the Wangal Sports Complex during the celebration of the 30th founding anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), NCCA Executive Director Rico Pableo, Jr. said the creation of local councils for culture and arts will be included as one of the criteria for judging local governments for their compliance to the coveted Seal of Good Local governance this year.