The city council on Monday through Resolution 163, s. 2020 has confirmed Executive Order 65, s. 2020 of Mayor Benjie Magalong declaring the city under community quarantine pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 922 signed on March 8, which puts the entire country under a state of public health emergency, and the March 16 declaration placing Luzon under enhanced community quarantine due to the Covid-19.
The confirmation is in support to the full implementation of the order as strategy in preventing the further spread of the Covid-19 which local transmission cases throughout the country are increasing daily as announced by the Department of Health.
Resolution 163 also authorizes the release of the quick response funds for the 128 barangays for implementation of urgent and critical measures to contain or prevent the spread of the virus, mitigate its effect and impact to the community, and prevent serious disruption of the functions of the government and the community.
In Resolution 164, s. 2020 the council has requested all real estate lessors to give their lessees discounts or extend the period for them to pay rent during the duration of the enhance community quarantine in the city.
The council said any discount or extension of payment could at least mitigate the adverse impact of the one-month quarantine on the economic sector, particularly the lessees who mainly depend from their sales as source of funds in paying their rentals.
The other approved resolutions to take effect during the duration of the enhanced community quarantine are: Providing the rules on the use of public transport in the city; Requesting all managers/owners of establishments as enumerated in Section 1, sub-section 1a (VI) of Executive Order 67 s. 2020 to provide public transport to ferry their employees to their respective workplaces; Allowing all managers/owners of business process outsourcing and export-oriented industries to have a contract with public transport operators to ferry their employees to their respective workplaces;Urging universities and colleges in the city to assist their students by providing transportation mechanisms to allow them to return home to their respective provinces; Urging the Baguio branches of the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to release early the pensions of senior citizens; and Requesting Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc., Baguio Water District, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Smart, Globe, and other communication and cable utility companies, for extension of payment and reprieve on the payment of late charges, penalties, surcharges, and such other fees/charges.
The resolution “allowing the entry of tourist vans coming from Tarlac to the city in order to transport foreign students to Ninoy Aquino International Airport or other international airports” is subject to paragraph 7 of the enhance community quarantine for “outbound passengers intending to depart the Philippines from any of the international airports in Luzon shall be allowed to travel for a period of 72 hours from effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine.”
In Resolution 161, s. 2020, the council has called on all concerned public and private offices such as the City Buildings and Architecture Office and the Department of Public Work and Highways, including business establishments, radio stations, and the media to strictly implement and observe the provisions of Republic Act 8971 and Ordinances 23 and 57, s. 1977.
The resolution wants city streets to be called by their proper/official name like Bokawkan Road as “Buhagan Road,” its historical-linguistic origin from the Ibaloy dialect which means napukray nga camote in Ilocano.
The portion of Naguilian Road from the junction of Kayang and Abanao Streets fronting the Baguio City Police Office up to the city limit as Elpidio Qurino Highway pursuant to Ordinance 57, s. 1997.
In addition, the Agoo-Baguio Road, beginning at La Union up to Benguet boundary traversing Benguet and Baguio, to be properly called “Aspiras-Palispis Highway”or its Agoo-Tubao-Pugo section as “Jose D. Aspiras Highway” and the Benguet-Baguio section as “Ben Palispis Highway” as provided in Republic Act 8971.
In Ordinance 37, s. 2020, various funds from the 2019 miscellaneous and other operating expenses of the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office were reverted to the general fund and same were re-appropriated for the: rehabilitation of hog corral located at the Slaughterhouse Compound – P1.5 million; rehabilitation of the Meat Inspection Office – P600,000; and rehabilitation of the Animal Health Services Office – P615,000.
April 27, 2024
