In a meeting presided over by City Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan, the city councilors bared their respective proposals relative to city council’s legislative agenda and the city’s Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) for 2022 to 2023.
City Mayor Benjamin Magalong together with the City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña and City Planning and Development Officer Dona Tabangin attended the meeting and presented an analysis on extent of accomplishments on the previous ELA as basis and guide of the council in contributing appropriate legislation for a realizable and actionable Comprehensive Development Plan for the city.
Department of the Interior and Local Government City Director Millicent Cariño shared technical support regarding the proper way of determining the legislative requirements or priority legislation that need to be enacted by the city council to support development priorities of the city.
Steps on determining legislative requirements or priorities best starts with the use of the problem-solution finding matrix.
Problem and solution could be found by revisiting the city’s vision and mission, thereby knowing what the gaps are between the current situation and the vision, the causes of the gaps or situations, the implications if observed conditions remain unresolved, and possible legislative measures to be formulated to address or solve the observed situations or problems.
The proposals of the participants were classified and summarized into the following seven-point agenda: environment, land use, and energy; urban regeneration; Smart City management; climate change and disaster resilience; economic development and competitiveness; good governance; and empowering the youth.
The objectives intended to be addressed, achieved or accomplished under environment, land use, and energy are: mixed use planning; harness and revitalize green assets; carrying capacity of the land; indigenous peoples land issues and land tenureship; mobility of people, not cars; housing security; sanitation; solid waste; storm water; water supply; big audacious goal-growth nodes;
Urban Regeneration – gender equality and social inclusion; review and amendment of the Investment Code; investment zones; hazard-prone communities; gentrification pressure; boosting cultural and artistic identity; land banking; and economic revitalization such as reduced real property tax;
Smart City Management – technology infrastructure; harnessing data; data analytics; and research and innovation; digitalization of services; and productivity and competitiveness, which include market modernization;
Climate and disaster resilience – greenhouse gas commitment; increased storms and extreme weather; impact to agriculture and natural habitats; green and resilience financing; scenario planning, disaster management; infrastructure interventions, catalytic projects, resettlement; and nature-based solutions like community-based parks, watershed, and forestry programs;
Economic development and competitiveness – access to economic opportunities; livelihood service; financial sustainability; entrepreneurial energy; innovation and competitiveness; education and skills development; peace and order; and sustainable tourism;
Good governance – public participation; citizen engagement dashboard; youth leadership; online services, BIMP; empowered barangay governance; regional synergy; transition to circular economy; and government officials and employees; and
Empowering the youth – public participation; citizen engagement dashboard; and youth leadership.
The agenda is supported by 29 legislative proposals from the councilors and the vice mayor.
There are 22 proposals under environment, 72 under social services, and 22 on economic for a total of 123 items to date.
