BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Baguio City marked its 117th founding anniversary on Tuesday with the reopening of Burnham Lake after nearly a year of rehabilitation and a renewed call by Mayor Benjamin Magalong for long-term reforms that can outlast political administrations.
The city began its Baguio Day celebrations with a simple reopening ceremony for Burnham Lake early morning, followed by the main program at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, where Magalong delivered his State of the City Address.
Burnham Lake had been closed since October 2025 for rehabilitation and improvement works.
The reopening restored one of the city’s most recognizable recreational attractions to the public after almost a year of work.
Boat rides are now priced at P350 for 30 minutes, while pedaled boats cost P450 for 30 minutes.
Each boat can accommodate a maximum of five passengers, including a rower when passengers request one, according to information provided by a boat concessionaire.
The concessionaire said the boat rental fee includes accident insurance coverage for passengers during the ride.
This year’s celebration was attended by Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Executive Officer Mark T. Lapid, who served as keynote speaker and guest of honor.
But beyond the anniversary festivities and the reopening of Burnham Lake, Magalong used his address to lay out what he described as the administration’s broader effort to build institutions and systems that would continue beyond the remaining two years of his term.
The mayor opened his address by asking those present to observe a moment of silence for 10 people who died in the landslide at Guisad Surong and for mural artist Anilito Acurin, who recently died in a vehicular accident.Â
He then called on residents to celebrate Baguio’s history and achievements while also considering the city’s future.
Magalong said his administration had focused on securing long-term benefits rather than short-term political gains, arguing that public programs should not depend on a particular political leader.
“I, as the Local Chief Executive, have to be dispensable. What must persist are institutionalized programs and projects that are not associated with any political figure but interwoven with Baguio’s DNA.”
The mayor said the city was working toward its Baguio 2043 vision of becoming a “Livable, Inclusive, and Creative City,” supported by what he described as sustainable, participative and accountable governance.
His address covered a wide range of long-term concerns, including fiscal sustainability, waste management, water security, housing, disaster resilience, digital governance and public-sector reforms.
Magalong reported that the city’s revenues grew 14.04% in 2025 to P3 billion from P2.63 billion, while collections had reached P2.25 billion as of July this year.
He said the city’s 2026 budget stood at P3.65 billion, with 62% utilized as of the previous month.
He also cited economic growth, saying Baguio’s economy expanded by 5.8% in 2024 to P178.85 billion from P169.02 billion.
On waste management, the mayor pointed to the city’s push for a circular economy, including the adoption of the Pansa-Nopen Tayo Circular Economy Framework and efforts to reduce waste generation.
“The mindset should be treating waste not as waste but as a resource,” Magalong said.
He said the city was establishing Materials Recovery Systems in six barangays as pilot sites and constructing a modern Waste Processing Facility, while also expanding circular economy education in schools.
Magalong also identified water security as one of Baguio’s most pressing long-term concerns.
He said a feasibility study supported by British technical assistance found that Baguio could face a water supply gap of at least 117 million liters per day by 2055.
The study examined eight potential sources and assessed their technical, financial, environmental, social and climate considerations, he said.
The city is also working with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation under the BRIDGE Project, supported by the Canadian government, to strengthen integrated water resources management, according to the mayor.
Magalong said the city was pursuing additional housing development sites, including properties in Irisan, Asin, near the convention center, Marcoville and Quezon Hill, while continuing work related to Luna Terraces.
He also highlighted Baguio’s designation as a Resilience Hub under the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative.
The designation, he said, would allow the city to share its experiences with other local governments while gaining access to a broader network of technical experts and partners.
Technology and data were another major focus of the address.
Magalong cited the city’s continued use of the MINERVA system for data and predictive analytics, as well as the enhanced Baguio In My Pocket Plus digital platform for public services.
He also pointed to PRISM, which allows the public to view information on city-funded infrastructure projects and submit concerns, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and public participation.
The city is likewise working to improve its Open Data Portal and is reviewing a draft open data policy using the Global Open Data Index as a guide, according to the mayor.
Magalong said reforms would have limited value if they depended solely on the current administration.
He cited the city’s Performance Governance System, its continuing ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and its pursuit of ISO 37001 certification for anti-bribery management systems as part of efforts to strengthen City Hall as an institution.
The mayor also highlighted the Emerging Leaders Program, which has been formally adopted as the city’s leadership development framework.
In one of the address’s strongest statements, Magalong said he wanted promotions and appointments in government to be based on merit rather than political connections.
He said he had waived his authority to personally select employees for appointments or promotions, leaving decisions to the Personal Selection Board based on qualifications including track record, service reputation, leadership potential and character.
He described moving away from the “palakasan” system, or a culture of favoritism and political patronage.
“Ang position ay pinaghihirapan mo based on merit. Hindi mo utang sa Mayor.” (A position is earned based on merit. You do not owe it to the Mayor.)
The mayor said the administration’s most important legacy could be a change in how public service is viewed — one that is not tied to a particular politician, office or political alliance.
“Again, we only have 2 years left in this administration. My only hope is that when we leave, we leave a Baguio that you can be proud of.”
Magalong acknowledged that the administration was not perfect and said there were things it could have done better.
But he said the city had sought to build a culture in which public servants continually raised standards and improved government operations.
He said difficult decisions were guided by data and evidence.
“Hinding-hindi magbabago ‘yan.” (That will never change.)
As Baguio celebrated its 117th anniversary, the day’s events reflected both the city’s heritage and the challenges facing its future.
The reopening of Burnham Lake returned a major public attraction to residents and visitors, while the mayor’s address focused on a different kind of restoration: building institutions capable of addressing the city’s long-term needs in water, waste, housing, resilience and governance.
The celebration ended with Magalong calling on Baguio residents to continue demanding more from both government and themselves.
“Happy Baguio Day muli. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang Lungsod ng Baguio.” (Happy Baguio Day once again. Thank you very much. Long live the City of Baguio.)
Share
