BAGUIO CITY – Deaths due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Baguio have risen by 70 percent in the first five months of 2026, with 17 recorded deaths from January to May compared to 15 for the entire year of 2025, the City Health Services Office (CHSO) reported Thursday.
CKD is now the top cause of death among city residents, with most deaths occurring in patients aged 60 to 69, followed by ages 70 to 79, then 40 to 49 and 50 to 59.
Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, city health officer, urged the public to drink plain water to ensure good kidney health.
“Especially with the hot temperature, we do not just encourage everyone to hydrate but to drink plain water, which is the best for better health,” Brillantes said in a mix of Filipino and English.
She said drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily helps keep kidneys healthy and working properly, aiding in the filtration of waste and toxins, preventing kidney stones and infections, maintaining proper fluid balance, and supporting healthy blood pressure.
Councilor Leandro Yangot has proposed an ordinance to institutionalize mandatory water-drinking signals in all public and private schools offering child development centers, kindergarten, elementary, and secondary classes in Baguio.
Under the proposed measure, schools will be required to sound water-drinking signals through bells, buzzers, ringers, or public address systems at designated times: before the first morning class, after morning recess, before the first afternoon subject, and after the last subject.
Schools will also be required to conduct information campaigns by posting creative and informative materials regarding the benefits of hydration in classrooms, bulletin boards, and canteens.
Schools in the city were earlier required to have drinking fountains or containers where children can drink or refill their water tumblers. **Liza Agoot
