The city council chaired by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and with the active participation of all the councilors, has successfully delivered its duties and mandate to the public for 2020.
The council has conducted 44 regular sessions and eight special sessions aside from several committee meetings and public hearings which resulted to the approval of 703 resolutions and 164 ordinances.
At the onset of the pandemic and after the declaration of a health emergency and enhanced community quarantine by President Rodrigo Duterte, the council has introduced into its internal rules the conduct of teleconferences to ensure that even with limited movement, urgent legislative measures are acted upon for the smooth operation and delivery of public service.
Among the resolutions that were acted upon were: Resolution 163, s. 2020, which gives support to the implementation of Executive Order 65, s. 2020 of Mayor Benjamin Magalong for the use of the quick response fund of the 128 barangays for their Covid-19 response.
In Resolution 164, s. 2020, real estate lessors were asked to give discounts or extend the period of payment of rentals to lessees covering the period covered in the ECQ.
In Resolution 207, s. 2020, the city council reminded the public and concerned authorities that Baguio has an “Anti-Discrimination Ordinance,” which prohibits denial of access to goods and services; inflicting stigma; inciting others to commit acts of discrimination; and inflicting harm on health and well-being against those who had Covid-19 and those suspected to have been infected of the virus.
In the three resolutions, the council authorized the mayor in behalf of the city government to sign memorandum of agreements with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the release and distribution of the social amelioration package amounting to P263.7 million for 47,957 families or more; the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the use of the Sto. Niño Jesus Medical Center as a dialysis center; and the Sto. Niño Jesus Medical Center and Lindi Hotel for the use of their establishments as offsite care centers for persons infected with the SARS-CoV2.
The council also approved Resolution 200, s. 2020 encouraging Covid-19 positive patients to disclose their identities to facilitate contact tracing, and Resolution 201, s. 2020 calling for a liquor ban in Baguio.” Both resolutions have been helpful in the campaign for the prevention of transmission and containment of infection.
Through Ordinance 75, s. 2020, P100M from the P150M anti-Covid-19 fund was allocated for financial assistance for micro, small and medium enterprises.
The money is for financing of business projects of MSMEs affected by the general and enhanced community quarantine ranging from a minimum of P10,00 up to P50,000 with zero interest and payable for a minimum of six months up to 24 months.
In Ordinance 124, s. 2020, P18.4M from the general fund was allocated for the procurement of universal serial bus drives for learners in the city for electronic copies of their modules instead of costly printed copies.
The assistance supports the basic education learning continuity plan of the Department of Education through different modalities.
Contents of the electronic modules include the parent guidebook, physical and mental health manual, and other learning materials.
Also, P50M was appropriated through Ordinance 135, s. 2020 for the upgrading of salaries of entry level nurses; cash incentives of nonagenarians; the manpower requirement for the different Covid-19 isolation units; procurement of personal protective equipment, hygiene kits for patients, and other materials in isolation facilities; procurement of medicines; and other Covid-19-related projects and activities.
The council also approved Ordinance 163, s. 2020 granting gratuity pay to job order and contract of service workers of the city government whose services were engaged in 2019; and Ordinance 164, s. 2020 granting one-time service recognition incentive to all officials and employees of the city government.
The incentives are for recognition of the concerted efforts carried out and contributed by city government officials and workers as manifested by their rating performance this year and the many recognition and awards received by the city government in previous years.
April 25, 2024
