Baguio: This summer capital and the entire Benguet province are now under a "blue alert" status from Friday until Sunday, for the influx of travelers for the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) "Talang Dangal" Class of 2026.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) issued Memorandum No. 36-2026 late Thursday, announcing the alert. The memorandum, signed by Office of Civil Defense-Cordillera director and CDRRMC chair Albert Mogol, mandates all concerned emergency operations centers, including those of Baguio City and the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay (BLISTT), to synchronize with the alert status. The council emphasized the need for maximum operability and situation monitoring.

Over 5,000 relatives of graduating cadets are expected to join regular tourists in Baguio and Benguet, based on projections from local authorities. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will be the guest of honor and speaker at the graduation ceremony for the 207 members of the PMA 'Talang Dangal' Class of 2026 on Saturday. The event will also see the attendance of several ranking government officials.

Under the blue alert status, emergency response units are on standby, maintaining continuous monitoring and coordination with local government units. Maj. Marcy Marron, information officer of the Baguio City Police Office, reported that a total of 548 personnel will be deployed for the event to ensure area and route security, traffic direction and control, and to serve as quick reaction teams and Reserved Standby Support Force.

Marron further noted that the Regional Force Battalion 15, Aviation Group, and airport fire officers will provide additional support for the event. Personnel from concerned agencies will be deployed along roads to assist motorists, ensuring smooth traffic flow and visitor safety.