BAGUIO CITY, May 28 -- 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 Filipin...