Cordillera prepares for the worst

BAGUIO CITY — Local government units in the Cordillera region have placed their communities on heightened alert after the entire region was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as of 8 November 2025.

In Baguio City, the local government announced the suspension of all activities in public parks on Monday, 10 November, to ensure the safety of residents and tourists. Earlier, the Office of the City Mayor also suspended government work for the same date to allow personnel and households to prepare and to enable the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to mobilize response teams.

In La Trinidad, Benguet, Mayor Roderick Awingan urged residents to participate in de-clogging canals and clearing garbage from road gutters to mitigate flooding. The municipal government likewise cancelled scheduled events as a precaution.

The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) has been placed on red alert, ensuring the stability of power lines and facilities across Baguio and Benguet. The management advised personnel—especially those on field duty—to secure their families’ safety before deployment.

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas ordered the suspension of all mining, tourism, and tourism-related operations in the province starting November 8 until weather conditions improve.

In Bauko, Mountain Province, Mayor Randolf Awisan issued an executive order directing DRRM units to identify households in high-risk zones and conduct preemptive evacuations.
"San amin ay kakailyan ay bumaey isnan high-risk areas ken hazard prone areas kaman isnan asideg di wanga ken landslide-prone, et man-evacuate isnan kaasidegan ay evacuation centers," the mayor said, advising residents near rivers and landslide-prone slopes to evacuate immediately. Tourism activities were also suspended.

The Mountain Province DRRM Council is on full alert and implementing readiness measures.

In Kalinga, the Provincial DRRM Council activated all preparatory protocols. The National Irrigation Administration began clearing waterways and assigned field personnel for monitoring. The Philippine Army’s 103rd Brigade, Kalinga Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection deployed equipment and response teams. The Department of Information and Communications Technology placed Starlink units on standby to ensure uninterrupted communication.

Provincial governments of Apayao, Abra, and Ifugao likewise activated their respective PDRRMCs, advising communities to prepare for possible preemptive evacuations.