Diocese of Baguio - Social Action Commission

20/05/2026

DSAC CONDUCTS VALUES TALK FOR CITY CHILDCARE WORKERS

The Social Action Commission's Ma. Joselia Pioquinto, on behalf of the Baguio City Ecumenical Council [BCEC], conducted a brief talk to barangay child development workers [CDWs] about the values being upheld by Ordinance No. 39, series of 2023, formally known as “An Ordinance Declaring Baguio City as a “Character City, Adopting its Character City Programs, and for Other Purposes” or, the "Character City ordinance." The BCEC was invited to speak as part of the training provided by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to help city employees familiarize themselves with the numerous ordinances that they are obliged to follow. The talk focused on how CDWs can apply in simple and practical ways these 7 pillars of character, namely: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and being law-abiding citizens, especially as they are also expected to be models of their charges, who are usually 3-to 4-year-old children. Speakers from the academe and the City Social Welfare and Development Office [CSWDO] also spoke at length about other salient features of this ordinance.
The training was held at Ion Hotel, Legarda Road today, May 20.

18/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MH56MJkq9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

𝗟𝘂𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺

The CBCP-ECMI Luzon Inter-Diocesan Coordinating Council for Migrants Apostolate (LUDICMA) conducted its Luzon Assembly Preparatory Meeting via Zoom on May 15, 2026, gathering migrant ministry leaders and coordinators from different dioceses across Luzon.

The meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming Luzon Assembly and strengthening coordination and collaboration among diocesan migrant ministries in the region.

The ECMI Luzon Grand Assembly is set on June 2-4, 2026 at Brentwood Suites, Quezon City.

13/05/2026

BEC-LIFORSA PASTORAL MISSIONS CONTINUE IN KIAS AND ASIN

DSAC Baguio again joined the Diocese of Baguio Bec Liforsa team in its continuing revitalization efforts, which includes going to the margins of society to spread the Word of God, and also to conduct an assessment for possible Social Action programs in especially indigent areas. On May 7, Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Habado and BEC coordinators of St. Joseph the Worker Community in Kias, Baguio City, conducted their regular Thursday visit to selected families living deep within the barangay, catechizing the assembly, and arranging free mass weddings and baptisms. Several individuals were also given food packs as part of SJW's short-term assistance program. Student catechists of the Diocese's Bishop William Brasseur Memorial Catechetical Institute [BWBMCI] also joined to observe the process, aiming to replicate it in their own parishes/communities.
A similar visit was also held on May 11 in Our Lady of Lourdes chapel community in Asin, Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet; while Fr. Habado gave basic BEC catechesis to the assembled families and blessed houses, Rev. Fr. Seraph Balmadres, mission rector of San Pedro Calungsod Mission Station - Nangalisan, which has jurisdiction over the chapel, presided over Mass for a deceased parishioner and also blessed houses. The next visit will be in Lumecneng, San Pascual, Tuba, Benguet on June 23.

💻📸mjp

13/05/2026

WITH LOVE TO BANAUE

Thanks to our numerous donors, DSAC Baguio was able to send 12 large bags of assorted preloved clothing and accessories for various communities in Banaue, Ifugao; this was made possible with the assistance of Sr. Monique Tuguingay, SIHM. She is one of our longtime and enthusiastic collaborators regarding the distribution of clothing donations. This is only the first of several collections due to the large volume of clothing being brought to the office. For interested donors, please coordinate first with your own parish church; otherwise, kindly message us in advance on this page. We accept only ready-to-wear or clean clothes in good condition for the benefit of our recipients, and only in small quantities due to space constraints and low, or seasonal demand in Baguio and Benguet.

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

Sectors unite in Labor Day march vs oil price hikes in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY — Various sectors came together on Labor Day, May 1, to protest rising oil prices and their impact on basic goods and services.

The mobilization, led by the No to Oil Price Hike Coalition Baguio-Benguet, started at the Baguio Convention Center and proceeded to Igorot Park for a program.

The religious sector stood in unity with other groups, with the Diocese of Baguio represented by its Social Action Commission under Director Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Panayo, alongside the Regional Ecumenical Council of Cordillera (RECCORD) and the Baguio City Ecumenical Council (BCEC). In his message, Fr. Panayo emphasized the Church’s responsibility to stand with the oppressed and the poor.

Joining the march were transport groups, workers’ unions, market vendors, commuters, youth organizations, and academic sectors.

Participants reiterated calls to remove oil taxes, implement a ₱1,200 family living wage, and push for stronger government regulation of fuel prices, highlighting the need for unity across sectors.

The Social Action Commission's participation is rooted in its mission to uphold social justice and human dignity, affirming its role in accompanying marginalized communities. In the spirit of Saint Joseph the Worker, the Church stands with laborers and the poor in advocating for just wages, dignified work, and economic justice.

🖊️ hzk
📸 hzk, RECCORD, No to Oil Price Hikes Coalition Baguio-Benguet

30/04/2026

MAKE SALAD, NOT WAR!!!🥗
Let's help our farmers...for those near and in the area, please check it out:

More than 2,000 kilos (2 tons) of fresh Romaine Lettuce available for sale!

💚 Price: P10.00 per kilo
🌱 Order-to-harvest to ensure maximum freshness
📍 Pick-up location: Km 12 Tili, Shilan, La Trinidad
📞 Contact Person: Elmo Casenio

Support our local farmers while enjoying fresh, quality produce straight from the source! Bulk buyers, resellers, and vegetable lovers are welcome.

Pre-order po pala siya. As in fresh na fresh pa, to harvest palang po upon order. For delivery po pinapakiusap palang. And sa prepack per kilo waiting pa po kami sa reply ni farmer

22/04/2026

BEC-LIFORSA CONTINUE VISITS IN SAN PEDRO CALUNGSOD

The Basic Ecclesial Community [BEC] and Liturgy-Formation-Social Action [LIFORSA] programs, led by Rev. Frs. Rolly Buasen and Jeffrey Habado respectively, went on another immersion session in San Pedro Calungsod Mission Station. The families that were visited on April 21, 2026 were those within the St. John the Evangelist BEC in Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet. This time, two teams led by Frs. Buasen and Seraph Balmadres, SPC mission rector respectively, called on previously visited families to check on their spiritual well-being, to express the Church's closeness through their physical presence, and by blessing their houses, anointing and offering healing prayers for the sick, and inviting them to avail of the sacraments. The next home visits will be conducted on May 11, 2026 in Asin, Tuba, Benguet.

💻 Ma. Joselia Pioquinto📸MJP, Leticia Bueno

19/04/2026

Baguio Groups Unite to Form Coalition vs. Oil Price Hike

April 18, 2026 — CRC Hall, Bishop’s Residence, Baguio City

A broad alliance of organizations, sectors, and faith communities formally came together on April 18, 2026, at the CRC Hall of the Bishop’s Residence in Baguio City to launch the Stop the Oil Price Hike Coalition—a unified response to the continuing surge in fuel prices and its heavy impact on ordinary Filipinos.

The coalition brings together a diverse mix of stakeholders, including church groups, workers, market vendors, transport operators, educators, youth, women, and representatives from the private sector. Despite differences in background, all share a common concern: the growing burden of rising oil prices on daily life and livelihood.

-->Morning Dialogue with the Bishop
The day began with a dialogue between selected representatives and the Bishop of the Diocese of Baguio, Rafael T. Cruz. In the meeting, participants presented the urgency of the situation and outlined initial plans for coordinated action.

Bishop Cruz expressed his support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of unity in times of crisis. He underscored that collective action rooted in the common good is both a moral responsibility and a practical necessity, especially as communities face economic pressures.

-->Afternoon Assembly and Sectoral Sharing
In the afternoon, a larger assembly convened, where representatives and members shared firsthand accounts of how oil price increases have affected their respective sectors. Transport groups cited rising operational costs, market vendors described shrinking margins, and workers highlighted the widening gap between wages and daily expenses.

Participants acknowledged that while global factors contribute to fuel price increases, the effects are deeply felt at the local level—making coordinated national and grassroots responses essential.

-->Proposed Immediate Measures
After thorough discussion, the coalition agreed on several urgent proposals aimed at easing the burden on the public:
*Removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) and excise taxes on oil
*A ₱1,200 increase in the national minimum wage
*Subsidies for affected sectors, particularly transportation and essential goods
*Stronger price control mechanisms to prevent excessive increases

These immediate demands are intended to provide relief while amplifying calls for decisive government intervention.

-->Long-Term Reforms and Broader Advocacy
Beyond short-term solutions, the coalition also identified the need for structural reforms, including:
*Comprehensive reform of the oil industry
*Development of sustainable land and resource use policies
*Investment in accessible and efficient public transportation systems

The group also expressed solidarity with global calls to end armed conflicts, recognizing how war and geopolitical tensions contribute to instability in oil supply and pricing.

-->Moving Forward
The formation of the Stop the Oil Price Hike Coalition marks a significant step toward unified civic action in Baguio City. By combining immediate demands with long-term vision, the coalition aims to not only respond to the current crisis but also advocate for a more just and sustainable economic future.

As the coalition builds momentum, its members hope their collective voice will help compel meaningful and lasting solutions from national leaders—ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable are not left behind.

✒ 📷 hzk, peace and justice, good governance

14/04/2026

BEC-LIFORSA HOLD IMMERSION IN SPC

The Basic Ecclesial Community [BEC] and Liturgy-Formation-Social Action [LIFORSA] offices, led by Rev. Frs. Rolly Buasen and Jeffrey Habado respectively, went on an immersion session in San Pedro Calungsod Mission Station - Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet.
This daylong event was held on March 24, 2026, and was part of a series of activities under the revitalization program being undertaken with Rev. Fr. Seraph Balmadres, SPC mission rector. Three groups with a priest, staff and several BEC coordinators each concentrated on communities in Hydro 2, Sipitan and Absay (Taloy Sur), visiting upland and riverside-dwelling families to chat, bless the residents and their properties, and to conduct a simple survey of their spiritual needs. The next immersion session will be held in Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet on April 21.

💻 Ma. Joselia Pioquinto📸MJP, Hector Kawig