BAGUIO CITY, April 10, 2026 — The city government of Baguio has declared a state of calamity due to a worsening fuel crisis, allowing officials to tap emergency funds and implement measures to cushion residents from the impact of surging oil prices and supply disruptions.

The Baguio City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 257, series of 2026, which Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed, aligning the city’s move with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier declaration of a national energy emergency.

The declaration enables the local government to access its disaster risk reduction and management funds, mobilize resources, and enforce regulations to address the crisis. Officials said the funds will be used to support transport, food supply, and livelihood sectors that have been severely affected by the rising cost of fuel.

Residents have already felt the strain, with jeepney drivers limiting trips to save fuel, resulting in long queues at terminals and commuters struggling to get home during peak hours. The city government has begun deploying additional jeepney units and distributing financial aid to nearly 2,000 public utility drivers under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Local officials emphasized that the crisis stems from ongoing tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted global energy supplies and driven up prices. The city’s declaration of calamity is intended to provide immediate relief while longer-term solutions are coordinated with national agencies.

Mayor Magalong assured residents that the city is working to stabilize transport and essential services, noting that the quick response fund will also cover food and medical assistance for affected families.

The state of calamity in Baguio highlights the vulnerability of local economies to global energy shocks and underscores the need for contingency planning in urban centers heavily reliant on fuel for transport and tourism.

For now, the city’s emergency measures aim to ease the burden on commuters and drivers, but officials warned that the situation remains fluid and dependent on developments in the global oil market.