March 19, 2024

The city council has approved Ordinance 39, s. 2023 or the “Character City Ordinance of Baguio City” for the adoption of a character-based approach in governance where each citizen, community leader, and government official and employee are models or exemplars of good character.
The ordinance concurs with the aspiration expressed under Republic Act 11689 or the Revised Baguio City Charter to make the city a home of dynamic and diverse cultures and a center of education, trade and tourism in consonance with the laws of nature and environment managed by sincere and steadfast leaders who are God-fearing in partnership with responsible citizenry.
The desire and purpose of the Character City Program is to instill positive values in all aspects of human endeavor for the establishment of a city or community of character wherein elected officials, community leaders, and citizens recognize the importance of good character, that everyone works together to ensure that families are strong, homes and streets are safe, education is effective, business is productive, neighbors care about one another, and citizens are free to make wise choices for their lives and families.
Further, the ordinance provides for the creation of Baguio Character Council, the coordinating body, which sets the general direction of the character city programs.
The city mayor as the chairperson and action officer of the BCC shall issue a corresponding administrative order for the designation of other key officers and members enumerated under the ordinance, including secretariat, who shall serve for a term of three years.
The BCC shall meet monthly on its first year, and quarterly on its second and succeeding years to discharge their duties and functions. A special meeting can be conducted anytime for urgent matters. A majority of the members present shall compose a quorum. It shall render an annual report of its activities including financial reports. The report shall likewise be presented during the annual Character Week celebration.
No compensation shall be given to members of the BCC, but with annual amount of P500,000 appropriation in the annual budget of the City Mayor’s Office as necessary fund.
The city council has approved Ordinance 25, s. 2023, which declares a one-way traffic scheme along Crystal and Pearl Alley at Upper Rock Quarry, from Dacoroon residence exit going down to Sudaypan Street between Gonzales’ residence and Igadna’s residence.
Motor vehicles violating the provisions of the ordinance shall be penalized a fine of P150 on first offense; P300 – second offense; and P500 – third offense.
In Resolution 231, s. 2023, the body has authorized the city mayor representing the city government to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health-Cordillera for the repair of district health centers at Atab, Atok Trail, Aurora Hill, Pinsao, and Quirino Hill.
The amount of P500,000 intended for the repair of said health facilities as a result of the July 2022 earthquake to ensure the safety of health workers and patients and to resume full operations were equally distributed with each district center allotted P100,000.
The city council has recognized two new young lawyers for their exemplary achievement in the 2022 Bar examination, which result was released last April 14.
Commended through Resolution 233, s. 2023 is Anthony Mark Dulawan Emocling for being the first Bar passer with visually impairment in the country. He graduated from the Baguio City National High School-Bakakeng Annex in 2013 then studied Political Science at the University of Baguio where he graduated cum laude, and pursued Law at the same university.
Another Bar exam passer commended through Resolution 234, s. 2023 is Eric Pamintuan Exiomo for placing 18th in the 2022 Bar examination with an average of 86.4918 percent.
He is a consistent academic achiever, a class valedictorian at the Saint Louis University School of Law and a dean’s lister in his undergraduate course at the SLU School of Nursing.
The city council also commended through Resolution 235, s. 2023 all Baguio City residents who passed the 2022 Bar examinations who, through their dedication, have brought honor and prestige to their schools, families, and to the City of Baguio.
SLU was also commended in two resolutions for its role and contribution to the continued quality and excellent reputation of higher education institutions in the Cordillera, which also upholds Baguio City’s title as the education capital of the north.
One is Resolution 232, s. 2023 for being the second top performing Law school in the country in two categories in the 2022 Bar examinations.
For 11 to 50 examinees, SLU has achieved an impressive 95 percent passing rate in the “first time candidates category,” while obtaining a 78.46 percent passing percentage among Law schools with 51 to 100 examinees in the “all candidates category.”
Another is Resolution 237, s. 2023 for being the top performing school nationwide with a rating of 97.14 percent in the April 10 and 11, 2023 Pharmacists Licensure Examination. It ranked number one by having 34 successful examinees out of 35 in that examination.
Commended through Resolution 238, s. 2023 are the city’s Ten Outstanding Punong Barangays awarded by the Rotary Club of Metro Baguio last April 15 at The Mansion.
They are May Gonzales – Aurora Hill Proper; Jefferson Cheng – Abanao-Zandueta-Kayang-Chugum-Otek; Dan Daniel – Bakakeng Central; Edward Lumasang – Cabinet Hill-Teachers’ Camp; Jose Cawiding – Hillside; Nemesio Huag – Gibraltar; Manolo Llaneta – Scout Barrio; Josephine Balusdan – Sto. Tomas Proper; Joey David – Upper Rock Quarry; and Ma. Teresa Caracas – Upper Market.