During an urgent deliberation on March 24, 2025, the Baguio City Council discussed House Bill No. 7406 which proposes amendments to Sections 23, 52, and 55 of the Revised City Charter of Baguio (Republic Act No. 11689). If not vetoed or acted upon by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the House Bill will lapse into law on April 24, 2025.
Meeting the March 24 deadline set by Malacañang’s Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary, the city council members finalized a unified stance on the proposed amendments on the same day.
Section 1 of the House Bill amends Section 23 of RA 11689. This amendment removes a provision that requires the Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio to submit approved ordinances and resolutions for review by the Provincial Board of Benguet.
The city council members did not express any objection to this amendment, an expected reaction given that Section 23 of RA 11689 remains contentious and has been widely criticized by Baguio officials and residents for placing the chartered city of Baguio under the jurisdiction of the Province of Benguet.
Section 2 of the House Bill amends Section 52 of RA 11689 to remove John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) as vice-chair of the Special Committee on Lands which, if formed, would be tasked with assisting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and serving as a venue for resolving all land-related issues in the city.
The city council recommended partially vetoing Section 2 of the House Bill or repealing Section 52 of RA 11689, whichever is more applicable.
The city council members questioned JHMC’s designation as vice-chair, arguing that the committee is responsible for resolving complex land-related issues citywide, while Camp John Hay comprises only a portion of the city’s land.
While they affirmed their support for the removal of JHMC from the Special Committee on Lands, the city council members objected to Section 52 of RA 11689 in its entirety.
In their position paper, as stated in Resolution 194-2025, the city council argued that creating this special committee is unnecessary since existing laws and regulations such as Commonwealth Act No. 141, RA No. 730, RA No. 10023, Administrative Order No. 504, and RA No. 11573 already govern land disposition transactions. They further emphasized that AO 504 already serves the function of screening and evaluating all applications as a preliminary step for issuing the necessary clearance to allow due course for applications related to the acquisition of lands within the Baguio Townsite Reservation.
“What should be created is a dedicated or regular land office which could improve policy formulation, as well as policy implementation, that synthesizes the layers of administration necessary for all lands in the city,” the city council stated in their resolution.
Section 3 of the House Bill repeals Section 55 of RA 11689 which states that Camp John Hay, covering approximately 6,254,105 square meters and subject to final survey, was transferred to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) under RA 7227 or the BCDA Act of 1992 and is not part of the Baguio Townsite Reservation.
The city council expressed no objection to the repeal of Section 55 of RA 11689, a provision that has drawn criticism from the past and present city council for attempting to expand the area transferred to BCDA. They repeatedly pointed out inconsistencies in the declared land area, noting that RA 7227 specifies only 570 hectares for transfer, while Section 55 of RA 11689 states that the Camp John Hay Reservation covers 625 hectares.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed Resolution 194-2025 and sent it to Malacañang right after the city council’s deliberation, making it the official position of the City Government of Baguio.
Entire Revised City Charter Flawed: A New Charter is Needed
According to Councilor Jose Molintas, while these amendments as contained in the House Bill might not be controversial, the entire Revised City Charter remains “problematic.” He pointed out crucial issues including boundary disputes, the absence of explicit protections for ancestral lands, insufficient public consultation, and provisions copied verbatim from the Local Government Code, which have resulted in multiple errors.
Molintas asserted that instead of a Revised City Charter, Baguio should push for an entirely new City Charter that would truly address the city’s unique needs such as barangay reorganization and financial flexibility for local offices such as the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO). This new City Charter would be subject to a plebiscite for public approval, he said.
On the other hand, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda argued that the amendments in the House Bill are necessary corrective measures as the city council continues to pursue further reforms. She acknowledged that the Revised City Charter has flaws but suggested that instead of outright rejection of the House Bill, the city council should work on correcting its infirmities first and adopting a step-by-step approach.
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan expressed frustration over the implications of the Revised City Charter, warning that it could put Baguio in a precarious position and cause its people to suffer due to its serious flaws. -Jordan G. Habbiling
