The city council closed 2021 with huge accomplishments.
Aimed with the common goal of helping the city and its citizens recover from the socio-economic and health impacts of the pandemic, the city council enacted 121 ordinances and 642 resolutions.
The council conducted 46 regular sessions and six special sessions deliberating on matters concerning policies of the city. It also held 33 hearings/consultations and heard concerns of different groups and individuals during the Citizen’s Forum of its regular meetings.
Such achievement, which were carried out through various legislated projects, programs and activities, were made possible under the able leadership of Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and the commitment and cooperation of Councilors Joel Alangsab, Benny Bomogao, Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Elaine Sembrano, Maria Mylen Victoria Yaranon, Isabelo Cosalan Jr., Francisco Roberto Ortega VI, Arthur Allad-iw, Vladimir Cayabas, Fred Bagbagen, Lilia Fariñas, Philian Louise Weygan-Allan, Michael Lawana, and Levy Lloyd Orcales.
At the onset of 2021 when the city is faced with the continuing challenges of how to assist the public maintain their sources of income and to provide livelihood for those who lost their jobs, the city council through Resolution 1 has requested the 128 barangays through their committees on labor and employment to help in the information dissemination of available labor force in their barangays to the Public Employment Services Office.
With the cooperation and collaboration of barangay officials, concerned city offices and stakeholders, thousands of residents landed in various jobs that benefited their families.
In a follow up resolution, the city council called on stakeholders for a summit concerning their proposals which shall serve as basis for legislation and executive implementation towards development programs of the city government for 2021 and succeeding years for faster recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Recognizing health as a priority, the council authorized Mayor Benjamin Magalong to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health-CAR relative to the construction of a temporary treatment and monitoring facility and to facilitate the transfer of P10 million for the purpose.
Because of the presence of the facility, lives have been saved, and the severe impact of the Covid-19 on health was prevented, thus, maintaining a healthy and capable labor force.
The city council also authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with the DOH for the advance purchase of AZD1222 vaccine for use of Baguio residents.
The council also approved the setting up of a laboratory at the Baguio City Isolation Unit which is continuously benefiting clients as all fees and charges are being paid by the PhilHealth.
Other programs and activities that were implemented are the repair and rehabilitation of the temporary treatment and monitoring or quarantine and isolation facility at the Teachers’ Camp; grant of active hazard duty pay to human resources for health and Covid-19, and special risk allowance to private and public health workers in the city; allotment of P5.1 million additional medical assistance for indigent patients at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center; and the temporary processing of business permits affected by Ordinance 63, s. 2016 or The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance while awaiting amendment of said ordinance; and approval of various livelihood activities being conducted in different areas or barangays in the city.
In other resolutions, the city council has enjoined/requested all commercial buildings and real estate lessors in the city to consider giving discounts or reduce rentals during the implementation of the enhanced or general community quarantines; requested the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to allow more than 50 percent passenger capacity for public utility jeepneys and taxis in the city to help drivers and operators cope with the impact of the continuing fuel price hike; request jeepney and taxi operators to reduce their “boundary” remittances or percentage share from drivers to cushion the impact of the oil price hike; and the different higher education institutions in the city to institutionalize an academic break.
The council also passed Ordinance 116, s. 2021 or the 2022 budget of P2.3 billion.
April 25, 2024
