The city council in separate ordinances on Monday has allocated a total of P1 million from the city’s 30 percent disaster quick response fund as financial assistance/relief fund for Taal Volcano eruption victims.
An amount of P500,000 was given each to the provinces of Batangas and Cavite, which have the most areas and residents affected needing immediate help since the phreatic eruption last Jan. 12.
With the issuance of the mandatory evacuation order by the Department of the Interior and Local Government to 199 barangays in 15 municipalities and cities in Batangas and Cavite, which have been identified as vulnerable to ballistic projectiles, base surges, and volcanic tsunami as a result of the eruption of the volcano, the affected residents have no choice but to rely on reliefs and assistance from the government, other local government units, and private donors.
The assistance will at least help the victims and evacuees of around 16,174 families or 70,413 individuals from the affected areas who are taking shelter in 300 evacuation centers while waiting for the situation to normalize and return home and tend to their respective homes and livelihoods.
In extending help, the resolution stated that it has been the practice of the city government of Baguio to extend financial assistance to cities or municipalities struck by natural or man-made calamities.
Meanwhile, the body approved Ordinance 10, s. 20120, which prohibits in the city the sale of wet wipes and other similar baby products containing harmful ingredients, such as iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC), methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), methylisothiazolinone (MIT), and parabens.
The measure is intended to stop the alarming trade and distribution of these products at the city’s grocery stores, black market, supermarkets, and convenience stores, which are supposedly hygiene products but are found out to cause health risks to users.
The ordinance tasked the City Health Services Office to coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration the list of prohibited wet wipes and other similar baby products which contain said harmful ingredients, to be disseminated through the media to the public and the business sector.
The initial list of already identified prohibited/non-compliant products includes Dong Bang Baby Wipes, Dong Bang Yao Baby Tender Baby Wipes, Family Treasure Baby Tender Baby Wipes, Sky Fire Tender Baby Wipes, Giggley Baby Wipes, and Super Soft Skin Care Wet Towel. These are usually sold for P20 to P35 per pack.
The CHSO in coordination with the Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor’s Office, the Baguio City Police Office, and the barangays are authorized to conduct inspection of all grocery stores, black market, supermarkets and convenience stores, among others, for the confiscation of said prohibited/non-compliant products.
Penalties for business establishment/s found violating the ordinance are: first offense – P1,000 fine for business establishment with business permit and immediate closure for business establishment without business permit; second offense – a fine of P3,000 and closure of business establishment until compliance; and third offense – a fine of P5,000 and non-renewal of business permit.
Individuals or businesses that voluntarily surrender/submit prohibited/non-compliant products as listed in Section 5 of the ordinance to the CHSO will not be penalized.
A copy of the ordinance was submitted for signing to the Office of the City Mayor for its eventual implementation in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991.
In Resolution 60, s. 2020, the body informed the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office of the city’s compliance to Presidential Proclamation 653, s. 1993 for local government units concerned to commemorate the anniversaries of significant events related to the liberation of the Philippines during World War II.
The resolution informed through PVAO Administrator Usec. Ernesto Carolina of the existence of Ordinance 33, s. 1990, which declared April 27 of each year as Baguio Liberation Day in commemoration of the failure of the Japanese Army during the war to seize and control the city and its people, which is in compliance with the proclamation.
It also mentioned Resolution 229, s. 2016, which institutionalized the celebration of the signing of the instrument of surrender by Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita at Camp John Hay that officially ended World War II in the Asia Pacific. The annual event is held every Sept. 3, specifically known as the Victory Day in the city.
May 19, 2024
