March 29, 2024

The creation of Baguio City Historical Research (BCHR) is now underway following the approval of an ordinance authored by Councilor Vladimir Cayabas.
The creation of the BCHR shall establish a firm backbone for proper accounting of Baguio City’s rich history, chronicling significant events in the city to be used as a basis for the prime movers’ future actions and decisions.
According to the ordinance, the BCHR shall be tasked to protect historical facts about the city from any form of historical revisionism and to correct any distorted historical data resulting in gross miseducation and misrepresentation of cultures and peoples. 
The BCHR shall also strive to promote clear understanding and genuine appreciation of the history of Baguio to further strengthen a sense of pride and unity among its locals amidst adversities. 
The historical research council shall also be tasked to lead in officially supervising the conduct of historical researches and to assess and review the existing historical records. 
All the reviewed historical researches shall be consolidated. A custodian of all records shall be designated at the Baguio City Public Library. 
The historical research council shall also empower all concerned stakeholders in the field of historical research in the city by providing them capacity building programs.
The ordinance emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the city’s historical research team and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines for alignment of purposes and programs.  
The BCHR shall consist of the mayor as the chair; any representative from the Society of Local Historians and Historical Researchers as co-chair; the city planning and development coordinator as the vice chair; and the chair of the sanggunian’s committee on education, culture, and historical research, the city budget officer, the city librarian, representatives of the academe preferably distinguished historians, selected indigenous peoples’ council of elders; and representatives from the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, and recognized ethnic groups in the city as members. 
The BCHR shall be lodged under the City Mayor’s Office.
An amount of P500,000 shall be appropriated each year for the purpose.
The ordinance has been transmitted to the City Mayor’s Office for signing before implementation. – Jordan G. Habbiling