The Baguio City Council approved on second reading the proposed 2026 Revised Gender and Development (GAD) Code during its regular session on June 22, 2026, advancing provisions that seek to strengthen the recognition, representation, and protection of the LGBTQIA+ community, indigenous women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Unlike the previous Code, this new Revised GAD Code authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda now introduces specific rights, activities, and privileges tailored to these sectors.
Among the provisions emphasized during the discussion were Sections 3, 4, and 61 which explicitly mention gender-diverse individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community. City Council members discussed the inclusion of a formal definition of “gender-diverse” in the final version of the Code to ensure legal clarity and consistency across its provisions.
Section 19, another provision highlighted during deliberation, was proposed to be amended to require barangays to promote and support not only women’s and men’s organizations but also LGBTQIA+ organizations formed by their constitutions.
The City Council also discussed the formal inclusion of indigenous women in the city’s governance framework. Section 18 seeks to ensure the active and meaningful representation of indigenous women in local development councils and other specialized decision-making bodies.
Questions were raised regarding how the proposed measure shall ensure the participation of indigenous women in governance. In response, it was clarified that Section 18 seeks to guarantee their representation in decision making bodies.
The City Council also discussed the inclusion of indigenous women in sex-disaggregated data (SDD) collection under the same section to ensure their participation will not be “ invisible” in the governance data.
For the benefits of PWDs, Sections 11 and 12 require the city government to provide comprehensive health services, information, and educational programs for women with disabilities in coordination with Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO). The provisions also mandate the delivery of preventive and management health services for mental health, including the establishment of developmental care and wellness programs for persons with autism.
Meanwhile, Section 59 directs both the city government and barangays to organize groups for PWDs, Solo Parents, Youth, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized groups that will serve as platforms for livelihood projects, capacity-building activities, and advocacy initiatives.
The City Council also reaffirmed that at least 5% of the city budget must be allocated for gender mainstreaming programs. Since PWDs are now integrated into the Code, they are entitled to support through this mandated funding to make the city’s social programs “as inclusive as possible,” particularly for women with disabilities.
Following its approval on second reading, the proposed 2026 Revised GAD Code will be revised to reflect the suggestions raised by City Council members during the deliberation. The measure will then be returned to the City Council for approval on third and final reading. Baguio City – Sangguniang Panlungsod
