Baguio, Benguet mayors agree on border rules

By Marissa Cabatu

BAGUIO CITY – Mayors of the BLISTT (Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay) agreed here on conditions and documents needed in passing borders of said areas.
    BLISTT council chairman Benjamin Magalong earlier called for a meeting to discuss the next steps after the expiration of the border restrictions advisory implemented from Feb. 1 to 15 in BLISTT.
    It was decided Baguio City will recognize all medical certificates and clearances of LISTT residents acquired since Feb. 1 as valid until Feb. 28 and authorized persons outside residence (APORs) are no longer required to submit medical certificates or clearances between BLISTT borders.
    Following the order of Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas, BLISTT vice chairman and Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan called for eased border restrictions between the LISTT municipalities like requirement for medical clearance/certificate.
    Magalong said citizens of Baguio will likewise comply with measures that the LISTT mayors will implement.
    The BLISTT chairman urged local government units (LGUs) to implement stricter health protocols, increased testing, and tracking.
    Magalong offered to help in aggressive mass testing in LISTT municipalities.
    Referring to the pandemic and the necessary preventive protocols,  Palangdan told mayors their residents will follow health protocols.
    The mayors agreed to respect the local autonomy of each LGU, with the LISTT municipalities to follow Benguet’s advisory on border restrictions.
    Sablan Mayor Manuel Munar noted increasing number of cases in their municipality saying they will release their own advisory similar to Baguio City.
    The BLISTT mayors agreed to monitor their respective Covid-19 cases in the next 10 days to determine best move in combatting spread of the virus.
    BLISTT head secretariat and National Economic Development Agency Cordillera OIC regional director Stephanie Christiansen noted mayors are committed to restricting non-essential travel of their residents through local guidelines.
    She said there was need to increase testing capacity in the LISTT.
    Baguio City is waiting results of tests on the UK variant of Covid-19 from the Philippine Genome Center.
    Magalong also offered to pass on, at purchase price, excess incoming vaccine supply to the LISTT towns.