BAGUIO CITY — To enjoy the flora, fauna, and amenities of the city’s famous Botanical Garden, residents of Baguio City and neighboring Benguet municipalities will now have to pay entrance fees.

In a public notice, residents of the BLISTT area — Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay — were informed that their period of free access expired at the end of January 2026. Under Ordinance No. 62, series of 2025, residents were granted a six-month window of free entry.

The announcement has sparked disappointment on social media, with many residents calling for a more permanent arrangement. A primary concern raised by netizens is that many locals never got to enjoy the benefit during the designated period, citing long tourist lines that made entry difficult. Some appealed for a second chance or an extension of the ordinance so those crowded out could finally visit.

Other residents argued that free access should be permanent rather than temporary. They noted that BLISTT residents are deeply integrated into city life, studying, shopping at the hilltop market, and conducting most daily activities in Baguio. Some suggested that all local attractions should ideally be free for residents, while others questioned the necessity of an entrance fee for a public park.

Amid the frustration, some proposed practical compromises, such as allowing free entry on non-holiday weekdays to avoid the tourist rush. Others took a more humorous approach, comparing the expiring ordinance to a fleeting romance and joking that the garden's free entry proved there is no such thing as "forever."

As the six-month grace period ends, the community remains hopeful that the city government will hear their requests and consider a more sustainable way for locals to enjoy their own backyard.