Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong was conferred the Degree of Doctor in Management, Honoris Causa, by UC during its 79th Commencement Exercises on October 10, 2025, where he also served as Commencement Speaker.
Dr. Magalong, who served 38 years in the Philippine National Police, has been recognized for his transformative leadership, integrity, and reform-oriented governance. As mayor of Baguio City since 2019, he has championed transparent, tech-driven, and sustainable governance through his Seven-Point Core Agenda and Baguio 2043 Vision.
Under his leadership, Baguio City established the Smart City Command Center and committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through projects in waste-to-energy conversion, sewerage rehabilitation, and green space restoration. His administration also advanced mental health services, youth innovation programs, and healthcare access.
A staunch advocate of transparency and accountability, Dr. Magalong has led efforts to uncover irregularities in public procurement and land transactions and spearheads the Mayors for Good Governance Movement.
He was appointed Special Adviser and Investigator to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, a role that underscores his unwavering integrity, investigative acumen, and moral courage. Entrusted with examining anomalies in public works and flood-control projects, Dr. Magalong guided the Commission in developing investigative frameworks, gathering evidence, and formulating initial reports to expose deep-seated irregularities in infrastructure spending.
Among his many distinctions are the Outstanding Public Servant Award from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Konrad Adenauer Medal for Good Local Governance.
In his address to the graduates, Dr. Magalong emphasized that โgood governance is never the work of one person alone, but a collective effort.โ He urged them to โparticipate in critical decision-making, demand accountability, and lead by exampleโ for there is no substitute for leadership grounded in integrity.
