BAGUIO CITY – The Mayors of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISTT) growth area agree to follow Baguio City’s lead in implementing various enhanced community quarantine guidelines particularly on the restrictions on travel and mobility to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The mayors met on March 18 to address various issues that came about during the first days of the national government’s declaration of an enhanced community quarantine covering the whole of Luzon.

Baguio City Mayor and BLISTT Council Chair Benjamin Magalong was first to express his apologies on behalf of the city and said, “everything we do in the City of Baguio will impact the adjacent municipalities”. He added that “we need to synchronize our efforts on the enhanced community quarantine and escalate preventive measures”. Itogon Mayor and BLISTT Council Vice-Chair Victorio Palangdan expressed urgency in adopting a unified effort, “we are willing to follow the procedures and protocols of the city, pagsayaatan tayu.” The mayors agreed to adopt the health declaration form of the City for consistency and facilitate the processing of those passing through the checkpoints set-up in entry and exit points in BLISTT.  This form is easily accessible through the city’s website at baguio.gov.ph.

Further, Palangdan echoed the sentiments of the other mayors that a unified transportation scheme must be put in place. The mayors agreed to a color-coding scheme for controlled LGU transportation in the BLISTT area. Setting an example for other Local Government Units, Sablan Mayor Manuel Munar, Jr., shared that the Sablan LGU is subsidizing fuel expenses for vegetable farmers that deliver their goods to the City.

Further, the BLISTT mayors will fund and consolidate the orders of facemasks, alcohol and other essentials to augment the supply for frontline service workers in the whole BLISTT area.  Mayor Magalong, being the Regional Peace and Order Council Chairman also sought the help of the Provincial and City PNP offices as well as NEDA-CAR as the secretariat of the BLISTT council in consolidating information and implementing these BLISTT-wide rules.

Please refer to your municipality’s announcements regarding the implementation of these and other agreements for accurate and updated information.