The city council approved an ordinance that declared Baguio as a Character City.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan, Jr., made it a policy of the local government to adopt a character-based approach in governance where every citizen, community leaders, government officials, and employees, are models or exemplars of good character.
He added the principal purpose of the ordinance is the elevation, advancement, promotion, and development of Baguio as a Character City.
The ordinance mandated the creation of the Baguio City Character Council that will be designated by the city mayor through an executive or administrative order with a term of three years unless revoked earlier.
The council is composed of the city mayor as chairperson and action officer, representative of an accredited civil society organization from the faith community as co-chairperson with the vice mayor serving as vice chairperson.
The members of the council shall include all members of the city council, a representative from the Office of the Congressman, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay-Baguio City, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, representatives from the local business sector duly accredited by the local government, representatives from the Department Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, representatives from the local academe o schools, representatives from the law enforcement agencies, representatives from the local information officer and media, and other personalities deemed necessary s determined by the council once convened by the city mayor.
Among the functions of the council are to promote values towards attaining the vision and mission of the local government as a Character City; develop programs and recommend actions for the improvement of the operations and implementation of the Character City programs; and conduct, coordinate and supervise orientation, workshops, seminars, trainings, conferences, conventions, yearend assessment and summits on character development among others.
The council is also tasked to organize and manage the celebration of the Character City Week which is set every third week of September; institutionalize the Character program; and formulate the manual on character building and development.
The ordinance provided the amount necessary to implement the provisions of the measure shall be appropriated in the annual budget of the City Mayor’s Office.
The ordinance stated the role of character has always been the key factor in the rise and fall of nations. It is the only effective bulwark against internal and external forces that lead to a country’s disintegration or collapse.
It added the mission of the Baguio Character Council is to make Baguio a God-loving and God-fearing City with determined leaders in partnership with self-reliant and disciplined citizenry by strengthening the ethical and spiritual values and develop the moral character of the populace. – PIO release
