PMA in Baguio City (PMA FB page)
BAGUIO CITY – The summer capital and Benguet province are now under a "blue alert" status from Friday until Sunday for the influx of travelers for the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Talang Dangal" Class of 2026.
"All concerned emergency operations center of member-agencies, including Baguio City, municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT), including the province of Benguet, shall be in synchronized with the alert status and be ready for augmentation as situation requires. Maximum inoperability and situation monitoring shall be observed," the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) said in Memorandum No. 36-2026 issued late Thursday.
The memorandum was signed by Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera Director and CDRRMC Chairman Albert Mogol.
Over 5,000 relatives of graduating cadets are expected to arrive aside from the regular tourists in Baguio and Benguet based on the projection of local authorities.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will serve as the guest of honor and speaker at the graduation rites for the 207 members of the PMA Talang Dangal Class of 2026 on Saturday, which would also be attended by several ranking government officials.
Under a blue alert status, emergency response units are on standby and monitoring and coordination continue with local government units.
Police Major Marcy Marron, information officer of the Baguio City Police Office, reported that a total of 548 personnel will be deployed for the event.
"They will serve as area and route security, traffic direction and control, quick reaction team, and Reserved Standby Support Force," Marron said.
He added that the Regional Force Battalion 15, Aviation Group, and airport fire officers will also serve as an augmentation force for the occasion.
Concerned agencies will also deploy personnel along roads to provide assistance to motorists.