The city council has approved Ordinance 15, s. 2024 “Institutionalizing the Ecological Waste Management and Sustainability Fair in the City of Baguio”.
Under the ordinance, the city government, in partnership with the private sector, the barangays, educational institutions, and other entities, shall conduct programs and activities that will elevate the level of public awareness on sustainable waste/resources management, promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices to nurture and protect the delicate balance of the environment.
The event shall be held quarterly, or as needed, at a suitable public venue not prohibited by law, to be conducted in accordance with existing rules and regulations. Partnerships shall be forged with church groups, districts, barangays, private entities, and other groups for fairs as part of their environmental programs.
A committee for the affair to be chaired by the mayor shall be created through an administrative order with the General Services Office and the City Environment and Parks Management Office as the vice chairpersons and action officers, and as secretariat, members of various city offices and private groups.
The committee shall handle, plan, manage, and oversee the conduct and operation of the activity and perform such other functions necessary to carry out the smooth implementation of the fairs. It shall submit a written report to the mayor and the city council within 15 days after every fair is concluded. It shall forge partnerships for the conduct of such fairs with other entities, public and private.
The city council approved Resolution 159, s. 2024 expressing support of the city government of Baguio to the opposition of indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities of the Baguio to House Bill 9608 introduced by Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, which seeks to rationalize the process in ancestral lands administration and adjudication by reorganizing the functions of the NCIP and amending the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.
As proposed, the Ancestral Domains Office under the NCIP will be transferred to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and will be renamed the Ancestral Land Registration and Administration Office, and an Ancestral Lands Administration and Adjudication Board under the Office of the Executive Secretary will be created to settle disputes concerning ancestral lands and domains administration and adjudication;
The council resolution pointed out that under the IPRA, NCIP was created to be directly under the Office of the President and the primary government agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and programs to recognize, protect, and promote the rights of IPs/ICCs.
However, the House bill will remove major functions of NCIP virtually rendering NCIP inutile.
“The said House bill is inimical to the interest and welfare of the IPs/ICCs as NCIP has been created and its employees trained and qualified to carry out the constitutionally guaranteed promotion and protection of rights of the IPs/ICCs within the framework of national unity and development” and “the IPs/ICCs of the City of Baguio, the birthplace of Native Title, are urged to manifest their support for NCIP by rejecting and expressing their opposition to House Bill No. 9608”, reads the resolution.
The city council approved Resolution 174, s. 2024 “Urging the attendance and active participation of all public officials and government employees, including national government offices, stationed in Baguio, during their respective barangay assembly days.”
April 27, 2024
